Section 4 Babylon was located on the Euphrates River near what is today Baghdad, Iraq. Hammurabi was Babylon’s king. He was the city’s greatest monarch. What is a monarch?

Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi was a brilliant war leader. He was most famous for a set of 282 laws called Hammurabi’s Code. It was important not only for how thorough it was, but also because it was written down for all to see. How do you think this code of laws affected citizens of that time?

The Hittites and Kassites The Hittites were the first people to master ironworking. They also used chariots in battle. Hittite rule did not last long. The Hittite king was assassinated and the kingdom fell into chaos. The Kassites captured the city and ruled for almost 400 years.

Chaldeans The Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians and set up a new kingdom of their own. King Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon into a beautiful city. They charted the stars and kept track of economic, political and weather events. They created the calendar and solved geometry problems.

The Phoenicians Phoenicia was located at the western end of the Fertile Crescent. They had very few resources. The one thing they did have was cedar. Cedar was a valuable trade item. Because of hostile neighbors they had to look at the sea for a way to trade. They developed the world’s first alphabet.