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Babylonia
Babylonia , ancient empire of Mesopotamia. The name is sometimes given to the whole civilization of S Mesopotamia, including the states established by the city rulers of Lagash, Akkad (or Agade), Uruk, and Ur in the 3d millennium BC Historically it is limited to the first dynasty of Babylon established by Hammurabi (c.1750 BC), and to the Neo-Babylonian period after the fall of the Assyrian Empire. Hammurabi, who had his capital at Babylon , issued the code of laws for the management of his large empire—for he was in control of most of the Tigris and Euphrates region even before he defeated the Elamites. Babylonian cuneiform writing was derived from the Sumerians. The quasifeudal society was divided into classes—the wealthy landowners and merchants and the priests; the less wealthy merchants, peasants, and artisans; and the slaves. The Babylonian religion (see Middle Eastern religions ) was inherited from the older Sumerian culture. All these Babylonian institutions influenced the civilization of Assyria and so contributed to the later history of the Middle East and of Western Europe.
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"Babylonia." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Babylonia." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Babylonia.html "Babylonia." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Babylonia.html |
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Babylonia
Babylonia Ancient region and empire of Mesopotamia, based on the city of Babylon. The Babylonian Empire was first established in the early 18th century bc by Hammurabi the Great, but declined under the impact of Hittites and Kassites in c.1595 bc. After a long period of weakness and confusion, the Empire eventually fell to Assyria in the 8th century bc. In c.625 bc, Babylon regained its independence and former glory, when Nabopolassar captured the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. In 586 bc, the New Babylonian (Chaldaean) Empire defeated Egypt and took the Jews to captivity in Babylon. In 538 bc, the Empire fell to the Persians.
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"Babylonia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Babylonia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Babylonia.html "Babylonia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Babylonia.html |
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Babylonia
Babylonia The ancient name for southern Mesopotamia (earlier called Sumer), which first became a political entity when an Amorite dynasty united Sumer and Akkad in the first half of the 2nd millenium BC. At this period its power extended over Assyria and part of Syria. After c.1530 BC first the Hittites then other invaders, the Kassites, dominated the land, and it became part of the Assyrian empire. With the latter's decline Babylonia again became prominent under the Chaldeans (625–538 BC), only to fall to Cyrus the Great, whose entry into BABYLON ended its power for ever.
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Cite this article
"Babylonia." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Babylonia." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Babylonia.html "Babylonia." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Babylonia.html |
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