Kassite period

The Kassite period refers to the rule of the Kassites, a people who established the second dynasty in Babylonia. Their exact origins are debated, but they are believed to have come from the Zagros Mountains in Iran. The Kassites gradually entered Mesopotamia and eventually took control of Babylonia, ruling for approximately 576 years, though their reign likely overlapped with the end of the first Babylonian dynasty.12

Key aspects of the Kassite period include:
* Governance: They were an efficient ruling military aristocracy, with their capital at Dur-Kurigalzu. A feudal system of government was in place, particularly evident in provincial administration.12
* Culture and Innovation: The Kassites introduced the horse to Babylonia and are credited with the invention of the kudurru, or boundary stone, which recorded land grants and served as an artistic and religious artifact. They also utilized molded bricks for relief figures in temple construction.12
* Decline: Kassite power in Babylonia was weakened by internal revolts and ultimately ended in the 12th century BCE with an invasion by the Elamites.12