*Includes pictures
*Includes ancient accounts
*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading
The ancient world was full of many fantastic cities and places, and like today’s major cities, the great ancient cities were hubs of trade, religion, and science. Writing was first invented in ancient cities, and many important scientific discoveries were also made in them, some of which are still used in the modern world. Among the many cities of the ancient world, Rome and Athens may come to mind first, but the city of Babylon in the land of Mesopotamia was already an ancient, venerated city when the others were still inconsequential settlements.
Today, Babylon has become a byword for greed, excess, and licentiousness, mostly due to its mention in the Bible, but a closer examination reveals that Babylon was so much more, and even perhaps the most important city in the ancient world. Ancient Babylon was home to great dynasties that produced some of the world’s most influential leaders, most notably Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar, and these rulers invoked their wills on the entire ancient Near East and have been remembered as both progressive and cruel all at the same time. Babylon was also the seat of culture in ancient Mesopotamia and the place where historians made amazing scientific advances that would not be eclipsed for several centuries. An examination of ancient Babylon demonstrates that it was truly the first great city in the ancient world.
The Babylonians were one of the earliest of history’s great ancient civilizations, and the most famous Babylonian of them all was Hammurabi, who came to the throne as the first king of the Babylonian empire around the beginning of the 18th century BCE. Hammurabi had a long and fruitful reign that saw him consolidate most of Mesopotamia under his control, but he’s best known today for Hammurabi’s Code, one of the earliest known code of laws in human history. Inscribed on stone tablets, Hammurabi’s Code was found over 3,500 years later in the early 20th century, making him one of antiquity’s most famous men.
The Kassites are one of the most enigmatic people among those in ancient Mesopotamia; despite ruling Babylon and much of Mesopotamia for over 400 years, their rule is one of the least documented among the Babylonian dynasties. As an ethnic group, their origins are even more mysterious, and modern historians still debate their point of origin and the classification of their language. The same is true for their eventual displacement once their dynasty in Babylon collapsed. It seems likely many if not most of the Kassites assimilated into Babylonian culture and stayed in Babylonia after the dynasty fell, but there is evidence that many rejoined their kinsmen, possibly in their original homeland.
While many questions remain, there is no doubt the Kassites greatly influenced the course of history in the Late Bronze Age, especially in the Near East. The Kassites were involved in long-distance trade and engaged in complex diplomatic maneuvering with other great kingdoms of the Bronze Age, making them one of the greatest of all ancient Mesopotamian dynasties.
The Kassites: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Civilization that Ruled the Babylonian Empire after Hammurabi and the First Babylonian Dynasty examines the impact the Kassites had on the region. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Kassites like never before.
