OldBabylonischen

OldBabylonischen refers to the Old Babylonian period in Mesopotamian history, roughly dating from about 2000 to 1600 BCE. The era centers on the city of Babylon in southern Mesopotamia and marks the rise of Babylon as a major political and cultural center under Amorite rulers. It is characterized by a growing urban economy, administrative sophistication, and significant literary and legal output preserved in cuneiform texts.

Politically, the period saw the emergence of Babylonian city-states and rulers who controlled large parts of southern Mesopotamia. The best-documented ruler is Hammurabi (circa 1792–1750 BCE), who expanded Babylon’s influence and issued one of the oldest known law codes. After his reign, the political landscape became more fragmented, though Babylon remained a central urban and cultural hub until the end of the period, when it faced Kassite incursions around the mid to late second millennium BCE.

Language and writing in the Old Babylonian period relied on Akkadian written in the cuneiform script. The Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian is the language of a large corpus of clay tablets, including administrative records, legal documents, economic contracts, and literary texts. Scribal schools, or edubba, trained officials who produced and managed this material, reflecting a highly organized bureaucracy and a literate elite.

Cultural contributions of the period include the Code of Hammurabi and early versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh. These texts illustrate advances in law, literature, and religion, and they underpin later Babylonian traditions. The period’s archival records provide crucial insights into daily life, trade networks, religious practices, and state administration in ancient Mesopotamia.

The Old Babylonian period concludes with Kassite conquest around 1595 BCE, transitioning to a new era while leaving a lasting impact on Mesopotamian law, literature, and administrative practices.