Babylonia was an ancient state in southern Mesopotamia, in present-day Iraq, centred on the city of Babylon on the Euphrates. It rose to prominence under Amorite kings, especially Hammurabi, famous for his law code, who unified much of Mesopotamia. Later it was ruled by the Kassites and came under Assyrian influence, before a Chaldean dynasty restored its independence and created the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II, who rebuilt Babylon and destroyed Jerusalem. Babylonian scholars made lasting advances in mathematics, astronomy and writing in cuneiform. The empire was conquered by the Persian king Cyrus the Great, after which Babylonia became a province, but its culture and city retained great prestige.
Before and after
- 3rd millennium BCEOrigins of Damascus
- 21st century BCEThe last mammoths die out on Wrangel Island
- from c. 2,000 BCE to 1,500 BCEPhilippine Jade Artifacts
- from c. 1,991 BCE to 1,802 BCETwelfth Dynasty of Egypt
- from 20th century BCE to 6th century BCEBabylonia
- c. 1,900 BCEConstruction of Karnak Temple Complex
- c. 1,900 BCEEruption of Black Peak
- c. 1,890 BCEEruption of Hudson, Cerro
- c. 1,860 BCEEruption of St. Helens
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 2,560 BCEConstruction of Great Pyramid of Giza
- c. 1,200 BCEIron Age
- 6th century BCEConstruction of Parthenon
- from January 27 BCE to January 395 CERoman Empire
- 81 CEConstruction of Colosseum
- 11 May 330 CEConstantine dedicates Constantinople
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires.