Babylonia Main Ideas: ∙The Rise of Hammurabi and Babylonia ∙Babylonian Civilization

The Rise of Hammurabi and Babylonia ~In 1792 B.C. Hammurabi became king of Babylon -located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ~Hammurabi was a clever leader who controlled all of Mesopotamia, as well as many other city-states. ~His empire was known as Babylonia. ~Hammurabi collected taxes to pay for his large army and construction projects. ~Hammurabi sent officials throughout his empire to carry out orders and to collect taxes.

~ One of Hammurabi’s main goals was to gain control of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ~ This would give him control of all irrigation systems and the farming economy. ~ Hammurabi was a brilliant warrior and his military tactics could be extremely brutal. (Ex: flooding cities)

Babylonian Civilization ~ Babylonia had a strict class system. ~ Babylon, the capitol city of the Babylonian empire, became a center of culture and learning. -Many advancements were made in mathematics, literature, and law.

Code of Hammurabi ~ A set of 282 laws ~ Many of the laws dealt with business practices ~ Others related to property ownership, medical practice, marriage, and childcare ~ First complete code of law written in Mesopotamia to have survived ~ This code gives us a good idea of the structure of the Babylonian society and the concerns of the Babylonians

Code of Hammurabi ~ “…to render [give] good to the people, to make justice shine in the land, to destroy the evil and wicked, that the strong do not oppress [mistreat] the weak” ~ Hammurabi’s Code called for different punishments based on the class of the lawbreaker and the victim of the crime ~ Punishments always fit the crime - “eye for an eye” - “tooth for a tooth”

This stone slab contains the Code of Hammurabi This stone slab contains the Code of Hammurabi. Above the Code, Hammurabi is shown standing before the god who is handing him the law.

Time to Review ~ Why did Hammurabi need tax money, and how did he collect it? How is this different from today’s society? ~ What was the purpose of the Code of Hammurabi? ~ Identify at least three positive effects Hammurabi had on the Mesopotamian civilization. ~What was the capitol city of Hammurabi’s empire? What was this city responsible for?