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Which parts of Mesopotamia did Hammurabi conquer for Babylon?
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Babylon
A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate at the ruins of Babylon, near modern Al-Ḥillah, Iraq.
Hammurabi, the sixth ruler of the Amorite dynasty, transformed Babylon from a small city-state into a major territorial power by conquering various regions across Mesopotamia. His military campaigns resulted in a kingdom that encompassed all of southern Babylonia and parts of Assyria.12
Key territorial expansions and military actions included:
- Southern Mesopotamia: Early in his reign, Hammurabi conquered the cities of Uruk and Isin. He later defeated Rim-Sin of Larsa in 1763 BCE, securing control over the entire south.3
- Eastern Regions: Hammurabi engaged in multiple conflicts with eastern powers, including Eshnunna and Elam, to protect his access to trade routes and resources.3
- Northern Expansion: By shifting the focus of his military operations, he moved the center of Mesopotamian power from the south to the north, where it remained for over a millennium.13
- Mari: Hammurabi eventually turned against his ally Zimrilim to gain control over Mari, a strategic location for overland trade.3