Babylonia: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Hammurabi before Shamash

Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.

The number 258,458 expressed in the sexagesimal (base 60) system of the Babylonians and in cuneiform.

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Topics

cuneiform Babylonian Map of the World Hittite Kassite Seven Wonders of the World Amorite Sumer Akkad Chaldea Mesene Bit-Adini history of Mesopotamia Ottoman Empire Assyria Mauryan empire Phoenicia

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Major Events

James Tissot: The Flight of the Prisoners

Babylonian Captivity

Nineveh: Nergal Gate

Battle of Nineveh

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Mesene

ancient region, Iraq

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Larsa

ancient city, Iraq

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Opis

ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia

Borsippa, Iraq

Borsippa

ancient Babylonian city, Iraq

Iraq

country, Asia

Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.

history of Mesopotamia

historical region, Asia

Sumerian cuneiform tablet

Sumer

ancient region, Iraq

Reconstructed Ishtar Gate at Babylon near Al-Hillah, Iraq, featuring blue walls decorated with rows of yellow and white animal reliefs and a central arched entrance.

Babylon

ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia

Bronze head of an Akkadian king, possibly Sargon of Akkad, with detailed curled beard and patterned hair, displayed on a white pedestal.

Akkad

historical region, Mesopotamia

Neo-Babylonian (Chaldean) empire, c. 6th century bce

Chaldea

ancient state, Middle East

Dura-Europus: Temple of Bel

Dura-Europus

ancient city, Syria

Key People

Hammurabi, limestone relief; in the British Museum

Hammurabi

king of Babylonia

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Saʿadia ben Joseph

Jewish exegete and philosopher

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Nebuchadnezzar II

king of Babylonia

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Hillel

Jewish scholar

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Cyrus The Younger

Persian prince

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Merodach-Baladan II

king of Babylonia

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Berosus

Chaldean priest and author

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Belshazzar

king of Babylonia

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Mani

Iranian religious leader

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Samuel of Nehardea

Babylonian-Jewish scholar

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Nabu-rimanni

Babylonian astronomer

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Nebuchadrezzar I

king of Babylonia

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Nabonidus

king of Babylonia

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Shamash-shum-ukin

crown prince of Babylonia

Taj Mahal, Agra, India. UNESCO World Heritage Site (minarets; Muslim, architecture; Islamic architecture; marble; mausoleum)

Wonders of the World Quiz

Tomb of Mohammed Bin Ali, Salalah, Oman.

A View of the Middle East