Babylonia
The settlement which would become Babylon – referred to as Babbar at the time, was intitially a minor city from the Early Dynastic Period from 2900 to 2350BC under the Patron God Marduk.
An Amorite Chief known as Sumu Abum established the first Babylonian Dynasty in1894 BC.
In 1792 BC Hammurabi ascended to the Throne of Babylon at the age of 18, and completed the conquest of Mesopotamian City States began by his predecessors, as he consolidated Babylon’s position by integrating important City States like Sippar, Kish, and Borsippa into the Babylonian Empire.
Immediately following this period, Hammurabi embarked on a series of important internal reforms which promoted Justice and Peace in the land as epitmosed in the Code Of Hammurabi.
These measures also included cancelling all debts which citizens would usually accumulate, and this engendered greater loyalty to him amongst the population.
For 28 years Hammurabi centered on internal improvements in Babylon, reorganising a lot of areas of the economy as well as embarking on a number of Kingly projects like dedicating Temples to the Goddess Inanna.
Nevertheless, in order to fully consolidate Babylon’s position, Hammurabi would have to conquer the Elamites.Â
At the head of grand alliance of Mesoptamian City States, Hammurabi defeated the Elamite threat from both the North and the South, concluding with a victory over the Mesopotamian Elamite collaborator Rim Sin in 1763 BC which brought the Ancient City of Nippur as well as Larsa under his Rule.
These events irrevocably changed the Political face of Sumer and Akkad.
Henceforth, City states would no longer characterise the region, instead they were replaced by a single Hegemonic Babylon which would be a significant territorial presence in the Region going forward.Â
