1740: Babylonian Empire reduced - Scroll Down for more details


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"The Decline of the Babylonian Empire in 1740 BCE - Hammurabi's Legacy Fades"

Content:

By 1740 BCE, the once-mighty Babylonian Empire, which had reached its zenith under King Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 BCE), was in decline. Hammurabi had unified much of Mesopotamia under his rule and established his famous law code, but after his death, his successors struggled to maintain control.

Factors in the Decline:

  1. Weak Successors: Hammurabi's son, Samsu-iluna (r. 1750-1712 BCE), faced immediate challenges. Rebellions erupted in southern Mesopotamia, particularly from the newly emerging Sealand Dynasty (a rival kingdom in the marshy regions of Sumer).
  2. Economic and Agricultural Strain: Over-centralization and over-taxation weakened the empire's economy. Irrigation systems fell into disrepair, leading to food shortages.
  3. Foreign Invasions: The Kassites, a people from the Zagros Mountains, began making incursions into Babylonian territory. Though they would not fully conquer Babylon until 1595 BCE, their pressure contributed to instability.
  4. Loss of Territory: By 1740 BCE, Babylon had lost control over key cities like Ur, Uruk, and Larsa, shrinking its influence significantly.

Aftermath:

The decline continued under later rulers, and by 1595 BCE, the Hittites sacked Babylon, ending the First Babylonian Dynasty. The Kassites eventually took over, ruling for centuries but never restoring Babylon to its former glory under Hammurabi.

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