Page 18 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

Babylonia also contributed significantly to Mesopotamian art and architecture; they built massive and
marvelous structures like Etemenanki and the Ishtar Gate (pictured on the previous page).
Nebuchadnezzar built the 47-foot-tall gate for the purpose of making the Jews taken in the Jerusalem
siege pass through it into Babylon. The gate was dedicated to the
pagan goddess Ishtar, and forcing the Jews to walk through such a
gate added great insult to their defeated condition.

The Babylonian civilization occupies a pivotal place in the history of
modern scientific astronomy, and it laid the basis for all Western
astronomy. They also laid the foundation for Western astrology.

Hammurabi’s famous
law code

Besides Hammurabi’s famous law code, he focused on improving irrigation and control of water
resources, building massive temples, and engaging in public works such as enlarging the double walls of
the city.

Hammurabi’s empire lasted only his lifetime. The control he had established over Mesopotamia
dwindled until the city itself was sacked in 1595 B.C. by the Hittites. Kassites, a mountain people from
Iran, later took the city and conquered the rest of Mesopotamia as well. Under the Kassite dynasty,
Babylon became a great cultural center of learning, producing texts on mathematics, medicine, and
astrology. The Kassites called Babylon by the name Karanduniash. Kassite control of the city lasted 435
years, with periodic episodes of Assyrian or Elamite conquests.

Assyrians controlled Babylon from 911 to 608 B.C. Under the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, Babylon
rebelled. Sennacherib destroyed the city, razing its walls, temples, and palaces to the ground. He then
proceeded to invade the land of Israel. After taking control of Lachish (south of Jerusalem), He
threatened to destroy Jerusalem. He sent the following letter to Hezekiah, king of Judah:

P324#y1

The Babylonian Empire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-ZGsqwXsNM

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