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The Fall of Eshnunna and the Rise of Babylon (1762 BCE)
In the year 1762 BCE, a pivotal shift occurred in Mesopotamian power dynamics when Eshnunna, a once-powerful city-state in the Tigris River valley, fell to Hammurabi of Babylon. This event marked a crucial step in Hammurabi's campaign to unify Mesopotamia under Babylonian rule.
Eshnunna (located in modern-day Iraq) had been a significant regional power in the early 2nd millennium BCE, rivaling Babylon, Larsa, and Assyria. It was known for its legal code (the Laws of Eshnunna) and strategic control of trade routes. However, internal instability, conflicts with neighboring Elam, and pressure from Hammurabi weakened its position.
By 1762 BCE, Hammurabi had already subdued several rivals, including Larsa (1763 BCE). Seeing Eshnunna as a threat, he launched a decisive military campaign. Historical records, including Hammurabi's own inscriptions, suggest that he either conquered Eshnunna through direct battle or exploited its weakened state after conflicts with Elam.
With Eshnunna's fall, Hammurabi secured control over key trade routes and further expanded his empire. This victory was part of his broader strategy to dominate Mesopotamia, culminating in his famous Code of Hammurabi (circa 1755 BCE), one of history's earliest written legal systems.
Eshnunna never regained its former prominence, fading into obscurity under Babylonian rule. Meanwhile, Hammurabi's conquests laid the foundation for Babylon's golden age, making it the dominant power in Mesopotamia for centuries.
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