A history of Babylon, 2200 BC-AD 75

312 Pages·14.973 MB·English

by  Beaulieu, Paul-Alain

Provides a new narrative history of the ancient world, from the beginnings of
civilization in the ancient Near East and Egypt to the fall of Constantinople
Written by an expert in the field, this book presents a narrative history of Babylon
from the time of its First Dynasty (1880–1595) until the last centuries of the
city’s existence during the Hellenistic and Parthian periods (ca. 331–75 ad).
Unlike other texts on Ancient Near Eastern and Mesopotamian history, it offers
a unique focus on Babylon and Babylonia, while still providing readers with an
awareness of the interaction with other states and peoples. Organized chronolog-
ically, it places the various socio-economic and cultural developments and insti-
tutions in their historical context. The book also gives religious and intellectual
developments more respectable coverage than books that have come before it.
A History of Babylon, 2200 bc–ad 75 teaches readers about the most important
phase in the development of Mesopotamian culture. The book offers in-depth
chapter coverage on the Sumero-Addadian Background, the rise of Babylon,
the decline of the first dynasty, Kassite ascendancy, the second dynasty of Isin,
Arameans and Chaldeans, the Assyrian century, the imperial heyday, and Babylon
under foreign rule.
• Focuses on Babylon and Babylonia
• Written by a highly regarded Assyriologist
• Part of the very successful Histories of the Ancient World series
• An excellent resource for students, instructors, and scholars
A History of Babylon, 2200 bc–ad 75 is a profound text that will be ideal for
upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses on Ancient Near Eastern and
Mesopotamian history and scholars of the subject.
Paul-Alain Beaulieu, PhD, is Professor of Assyriology at the University of
Toronto. He is the author of several articles and books on the history and culture
of Babylonia, as well as the greater spectrum of Mesopotamian history. He has
been teaching Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern History for more than
twenty years.
Blackwell History of the Ancient World
This series provides a new narrative history of the ancient world, from
the beginnings of civilization in the ancient Near East and Egypt to
the fall of Constantinople. Written by experts in their fields, the books
in the series offer authoritative accessible surveys for students and
general readers alike.
Published
A History of Babylon, 2200 bc–ad 75
Paul‐Alain Beaulieu
A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000–323 bc, third edition
Marc Van De Mieroop
A History of Ancient Egypt
Marc Van De Mieroop
A History of the Archaic Greek World, 1200–479 bce, second edition
Jonathan M. Hall
A History of the Classical Greek World, 478–323 bc, second edition
P. J. Rhodes
A History of the Hellenistic World, 323–30 bc
R. Malcolm Errington
A History of the Later Roman Empire, ad 284–641, second edition
Stephen Mitchell
A History of Byzantium, second edition
Timothy E. Gregory
A History of Greece, 1300 to 30 bc
Victor Parker
A History of Babylon
2200 – 75
bc ad
Paul‐Alain Beaulieu
This edition first published 2018
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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data
Names: Beaulieu, Paul-Alain, author.
Title: A history of Babylon, 2200 bc–ad 75 / by Paul-Alain Beaulieu.
Description: Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons Ltd, [2018] | Series: Blackwell history of the
ancient world | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017037670 (print) | LCCN 2017052840 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119459071 (pdf) |
ISBN 9781119459118 (epub) | ISBN 9781405188999 (cloth) | ISBN 9781405188982 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Babylon (Extinct city)—History.
Classification: LCC DS70.5.B3 (ebook) | LCC DS70.5.B3 B43 2018 (print) | DDC 935/.5–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017037670
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Cover Design: Wiley
Set in 10.5/12.5pt Plantin by SPi Global, Pondicherry, India
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In memory of William W. Hallo (1928–2015)

Contents
List of Illustrations xii
List of Tables xiv
List of Maps xvi
Preface xvii
List of Abbreviations xix
Author’s Note xx
1 Introductory Concerns 1
1.1 Assyriology and the Writing of History 3
1.1.1 Cuneiform Texts as Historical Sources 4
1.2 Historical Science and the Handling of Sources 17
1.3 Chronology 20
2 The Sumero‐Akkadian Background 24
2.1 Babylonia as Geographic Unit 24
2.2 The Natural Environment 25
2.3 The Neolithic Revolution 28
2.4 The Ubaid Period (6500–4000) 29
2.5 The Uruk Period (4000–3100) 30
2.6 The Jemdet Nasr Period (3100–2900) 31
2.7 The Early Dynastic Period (2900–2350) 34
2.7.1 The State of Lagash 38
2.7.2 Babylon in the Early Dynastic Period 40
2.8 The Sargonic (Old Akkadian) and Gutian Periods
(ca. 2334–2113) 41
2.8.1 Akkadian and Sumerian Linguistic Areas 42
2.8.2 The Early Sargonic Period (ca. 2334–2255) 44
viii CONTENTS
2.8.3 The Classical Sargonic Period (ca. 2254–2193) 46
2.8.4 Babylon in the Sargonic Period 50
2.8.5 T he Late Sargonic (ca. 2193–2154) and Gutian Periods
(ca. 2153–2113) 51
2.9 The Third Dynasty of Ur (2112–2004) 52
2.9.1 King of Sumer and Akkad 53
2.9.2 Shulgi’s Babylonia 54
2.9.3 Failure of the Ur III State 56
2.9.4 Babylon during the Ur III Period 57
3 The Rise of Babylon 60
3.1 The First Dynasty of Isin (2017–1794) 62
3.2 The Amorites 64
3.2.1 Amorite Genealogies and Histories 66
3.3 Date Lists and King Lists of Babylon I 68
3.4 Elusive Beginnings 69
3.5 Sumu‐la‐el (1880–1845) 70
3.5.1 The Letter of Anam and the Babylon‐Uruk Alliance 71
3.6 Half a Century of Stability (1844–1793) 72
3.6.1 The Battle for Kazallu 74
3.6.2 The Apex of Larsa 75
3.7 Hammu‐rabi (1792–1750) 76
3.7.1 In the Shadow of Samsi‐Addu (1792–1775) 77
3.7.2 Eshnunna’s Bid for Hegemony (1772–1770) 79
3.7.3 A Fragile Equilibrium (1769–1766) 80
3.7.4 The Elamite Intervention
and its Aftermath (1766–1764) 82
3.7.5 Showdown with Larsa (1764–1763) 83
3.7.6 The Capture and Sack of Mari (1761–1759) 85
3.7.7 Towards an Empire (1759–1750) 85
3.7.8 The Code of Hammu‐rabi 86
3.7.9 Hammu‐rabi as Administrator 92
4 Decline of the First Dynasty 97
4.1 The Reign of Samsu‐iluna (1749–1712) 97
4.1.1 The Rebellion of Rim‐Sin II (1742–1740) 99
4.1.2 The Rebellion of Rim‐Anum (1742–1740) 100
4.1.3 The Invasion of the Kassites (1742) 101
4.1.4 Samsu‐iluna Strikes Back 101
4.1.5 Sargonic Reveries 102
4.1.6 Loss of Southern Babylonia 103
4.1.7 Northern Exertions 104
4.1.8 Loss of Central Babylonia and Rise of the Sealand 108
4.1.9 From Sumerian to Akkadian Literature 108
4.1.10 Samsu‐iluna as Administrator and Legislator 109