The Babylonian civilization developed around 2100 BC in the city of Babylon under the rule of King Hammurabi. Hammurabi established one of the first legal codes, the Code of Hammurabi, which was inscribed on a stone tablet and established laws and punishments applicable to all social classes. The Code aimed to provide justice and protect the poor, widows, orphans, and laborers. Hammurabi also proved to be a capable administrator, as evidenced by clay tablets containing orders to his officers regarding tasks like collecting taxes, clearing rivers, and attending festivals. However, after Hammurabi's death, the Babylonian empire declined due to weak successors and was eventually plundered by outside forces like the H

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.