A Complete Guide to Ancient Babylon and Assyria | Full Reading | Human Voiced, No Ads

00:00:00 Intro and the Babylonian Family 01:25:40 Education and Death 02:16:04 Slaves and Freedmen 03:04:14 Manners and Customs 03:41:24 Trades and Housing 05:12:40 Bankers, Scribes, and Artists 05:50:58 Government and the Army 06:48:11 The Legal System 07:13:25 The Postal System 08:02:15 Religion SOURCE: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25080 Babylonians and Assyrians, Life and Customs by A. H. Sayce Join this channel to get access to perks: @asmr_historian Check out my Patreon for Ad Free Viewing: Patreon: ASMRHistorian Merch: https://histmerch.shop/ Founded around the 18th century BC, Babylon rose to prominence under the rule of Hammurabi (c. 1792–1750 BC). Hammurabi expanded the city's territory, uniting various Mesopotamian city-states under his rule and creating the Babylonian Empire. His Code of Hammurabi, one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive legal codes, established a framework for justice and helped unify the empire. Key Achievements and Advancements Law and Governance: The Code of Hammurabi set Babylon apart as a center of organized justice, covering various aspects of life, from trade and family matters to criminal justice. It was based on principles of retributive justice ("an eye for an eye") and underscored Babylon’s dedication to law and social order. Architecture and the Cityscape: Babylon is famed for its monumental architecture and grand urban planning. The city was known for its defensive walls, large temples, and palaces. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, are said to have been an extraordinary terraced garden built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, though their exact location remains debated. Ziggurats, or stepped temples, were central to the religious landscape, with the Etemenanki ziggurat (thought to be the "Tower of Babel") serving as a key religious site dedicated to the god Marduk. Religion and Mythology: The Babylonian pantheon was rich with gods and goddesses, with Marduk as the chief deity. Babylonian myths, such as the Enuma Elish (creation epic) and the Epic of Gilgamesh, are cornerstones of Mesopotamian religion and culture. The Akitu Festival, held annually to honor Marduk, was a central event that reinforced Babylon’s religious and political hierarchy, emphasizing the king’s divine mandate. Science and Mathematics: Babylonian scholars made significant contributions to astronomy, mathematics, and timekeeping. They developed a base-60 (sexagesimal) numeral system that influences how we measure time today (e.g., 60 minutes in an hour). Babylonian astronomers created detailed star maps and devised methods to predict lunar and solar events, setting the foundations for later astronomical studies. Trade and Economy: Babylon was a trading hub, linking Mesopotamia with regions in India, Egypt, and the Mediterranean. The city’s location along the Euphrates facilitated commerce, and the economy was supported by agriculture, craftwork, and trade. Markets and bazaars within Babylon bustled with goods, and the city had a developed system for loans, contracts, and banking overseen by scribes. Major Dynasties and Periods Old Babylonian Period (c. 2000–1595 BC): Characterized by Hammurabi’s rule and the creation of the Babylonian Empire. Kassite Period (c. 1595–1155 BC): Following Hammurabi’s dynasty, the Kassites ruled Babylon for centuries, helping to maintain stability and continuity. Neo-Babylonian Period (626–539 BC): Babylon experienced a resurgence under the Chaldean dynasty, especially under Nebuchadnezzar II, who expanded the city and built many of its iconic structures. Fall of Babylon: In 539 BC, Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia. Although it retained cultural significance, it gradually declined under Persian and later Seleucid rule. The Legacy of Babylon The legacy of ancient Babylon endures in the fields of law, literature, and science. Its myths, like the stories of Gilgamesh, have inspired countless works of literature. Babylon’s achievements in governance, urban planning, and scholarship influenced neighboring civilizations and remain key points of study in ancient history. Today, Babylon stands as a symbol of cultural and intellectual brilliance, remembered for its contributions to human knowledge and as an iconic city of the ancient world. Information sourced from Wiki, Gutenburg, JSTOR, primary and secondary sources. All information is congruent with archaeological and history evidence at the time of recording.