Babylonians

The Babylonians were inhabitants of Babylonia, a region in southern Mesopotamia centered on the city of Babylon, in present-day Iraq. The term also designates speakers of the Babylonian dialect of Akkadian and the culture that flourished in three historical periods: Old, Middle, and Neo-Babylonian.

The Old Babylonian period (roughly 1894–1595 BCE) saw Babylon emerge as a major political center under Hammurabi (reigned c. 1792–1750 BCE), whose code became a landmark legal text. After a period of foreign influence and upheaval, the Middle Babylonian period (c. 1595–1000 BCE) saw Kassite control, followed by the Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean Empire (626–539 BCE) under Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar II. The empire fell to Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, joining the Achaemenid Empire.

Culture and science: Babylonian society spoke a form of Akkadian and used cuneiform writing. Religion centered on Marduk, with a rich pantheon and astrology that informed calendars and omens. Architecture featured ziggurats and monumental gates, such as the Ishtar Gate. The literary repertoire includes the Epic of Gilgamesh and various legal, astronomical, and mathematical texts. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, if they existed, are a subject of debate.

Economy and society: Urban administration governed agriculture, canals, and trade with the Levant, Anatolia, and beyond. The social order included priests, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers, and slaves; scribal schools preserved laws, contracts, and religious writings.

Legacy: Babylonian law, astronomy, and administration influenced later Mesopotamian civilizations, and the term “Babylon” remains a cultural symbol of ancient Mesopotamia.