Babylonian Civilization

1. Babylonia Civilization
P.SindhuP.SINDHU

2. Growth of the Civilization
• Sumerian civilization declined – invasion of
Arabic nomads called Akkadians.
• Leader – Sargon I, a great warrior – extended
empire – Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean
sea.
• Akkadian adopted – Sumerian Civilization.
• About 2200 BC – Sumerian-Akkadian empire
declined.

3. • Elamites - Semitic tribe occupied southern
parts, whereas Amorites – tribe from Syria
occupied north.
• Amorites first settled in – Babylon.
• Leader – Hammurabi, empire which was
founded by Hammurabi – Babylonian.
• This civilization developed – village of
Babylon, i.e Babylonian civilization.

4. Hammurabi
• Came to prominence –
2100 BC.
• Economically –
prosperous.
• No scarcity of food.
• Weaving of woollen
cloths – important
industry.
• During his rule - happy
& prosperous.

5. Code of Hammurabi
• Greatest achievement – Hammurabi Code of
Laws – first law giver of mankind.
• Engraved the laws – piece of stone of 8 feet
high – written in Akkadian & Amorites.
• Top of the stone – Hammurabi received the
laws from the Sun god.
• First discovered – Susa in 1902.

6. • Law applicable to all from the nobles to the
slaves.
• 285 clauses – divided into four groups – civil
code, penal code, commercial code & code of
procedure.
• Aimed at securing justice to all – especially,
poor, widows, orphans & labourers.
• Prices of different commodities & wages for
different works were fixed.

7. Punishments
• Punishments – various offences like murder,
theft, negligence of duty, cheating, etc.
• Old conception of “an eye for an eye & a tooth
for a tooth”.
• If the son beat his father – his hands amputed.
• Similarly, doctor’s hands amputed –
negligence of work.
• People refined – due to these severe
punishments.

8. • He regulate the society – code of laws.
• Establish a rule of law – instead of personal
rule.
• All were equal before the law.

9. Administration
• Able administrator.
• 55 clay-tablets containing – orders to some of his
officers.
• In one tablet – he ordered to collect taxes from
poor cultivators.
• Another tablet – to clear the Euphrates river after
the flood.
• Ordered the officer to attend the Sheep-shearing
festival.
• Punished – bribery.

10. Religion
• Priests – powerful class
& foretell the future –
movement of stars &
planets.
• Development of
Astronomy.
• Chief God – Marduk.

11. • Ishtar – goddess of Love
– Greek god- Aphrodite
& Roman god – Venus.
• Shamash – Sun-god.
• Stars – gods.

12. Education
• There were schools in
Babylon – impart
education.
• 1844 school houses – 55
square feet – discovered.
• Students memorize 350
signs.
• “He who shall in tablet
writing shall shine like
the Sun”. – proverb
explain the educated
held high esteem.

13. Art & Architecture
• Lacked – art of paintings
• No place for sculptures.
• Hammurabi – some
temples & forts.

14. Decline of the Babylonian Civilization
• Empire decline – death
of Hammurabi.
• No powerful successors
– people lost their
power & vigour.
• Taking advantage of
the internal confusion –
Hittites & Kassites –
plundered Babylon.