The Ancient City of Babylon: History of the Babylonian Empire

Summary

This video explores the ancient city of Babylon, once considered a wonder of the world, with its legendary walls and the possibly mythical Hanging Gardens. Narrated by Kelly, it delves into Babylon's historical significance, its rise under King Hammurabi with his famous law codes, and its eventual fall to the Persians. The video also contrasts the Bible's negative portrayal of Babylon with the admiration from other ancient sources, highlighting the city's cultural and architectural marvels.

Takeaways

• 🏛 Babylon was an ancient city in Mesopotamia, now modern-day Iraq, and was known as the 'Gate of the Gods'.
• 🌳 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, may have never existed or possibly were located in Nineveh.
• 📜 Babylon's fame is partly due to its numerous biblical references, particularly in the books of Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Revelation.
• 🏗 The city was transformed into a powerful center by King Hammurabi, who is famous for his law codes and contributions to the city's infrastructure.
• 🛡 Babylon was known for its impressive structures like the Ishtar Gate and its massive walls, which were said to be wide enough for chariots to race on top.
• 🔥 The city faced destruction and rebuilding multiple times, including by the Neo-Assyrian King Sennacherib, who scattered its ruins.
• 🌐 Babylon's cultural and architectural legacy was admired by ancient sources, in contrast to the Bible's negative portrayal.
• 👑 Nebuchadnezzar II, a Chaldean king, renovated Babylon and constructed some of its most famous buildings, including the possibly mythical Hanging Gardens.
• 🏰 Babylon continued to be a significant city under various rulers until it was conquered by Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, leading to its eventual decline.
• 🗝️ The city's remains were lost for centuries until European travelers and archaeologists rediscovered them in the 17th and 18th centuries, sparking interest in Mesopotamian archaeology.

Q & A

What were the walls of Babylon once considered to be?

The walls of Babylon were once considered one of the wonders of the world.

What is the alternative theory about the location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?

Some scholars suggest that the Hanging Gardens may have actually been located in Nineveh instead of Babylon.

What does the name 'Babylon' mean in the context of the Acadians?

In the context of the Acadians, 'Babylon' means 'gate of the gods'.

Which biblical books make references to Babylon?

The biblical references to Babylon are primarily found in the books of Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the Book of Revelation.

What is Hammurabi known for in the history of Babylon?

Hammurabi is known for his law codes, which he spread throughout his empire, and for transforming Babylon into a powerful and influential city in Mesopotamia.

What happened to Babylon after Hammurabi's death?

After Hammurabi's death, his empire fell apart, making it easy for the Hittites to sack Babylon in 1595 BCE.

Who was Nebuchadnezzar II and what is he known for?

Nebuchadnezzar II was a Chaldean king who reigned from 605 to 562 BCE. He is known for renovating the city of Babylon and creating some of the most impressive buildings in Mesopotamia.

Why is the existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon questioned by some scholars?

The existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is questioned because their ruins have never been found, and some ancient sources suggest they may have been located elsewhere.

How did Cyrus the Great's approach to Babylon differ from that of the earlier conquerors?

Cyrus the Great took the city without a fight, according to Persian accounts, and held Babylon in high esteem, making it one of the administrative capitals of his empire.

What is the significance of the Ishtar Gate in Babylonian history?

The Ishtar Gate was a mammoth structure decorated with golden images and was often mentioned with reverence, symbolizing the grandeur of Babylon.

How did the city of Babylon decline and eventually disappear?

Babylon gradually declined after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, and by the time of Parthian rule in 141 BCE, it had been deserted and forgotten. The city was eventually swept away during the Muslim conquest in 650 CE and buried beneath the sands.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Ancient Babylon: The City of Wonders and Legends

This paragraph introduces the historical city of Babylon, located in what is now modern-day Iraq, and its significance in ancient Mesopotamia. Babylon was known as the 'Gate of the Gods' and gained fame through biblical references, particularly in books like Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Revelation. The city is also renowned for the legendary Hanging Gardens, the Ishtar Gate, and its impressive walls. The paragraph discusses the possibility that the Hanging Gardens may have been located elsewhere or even been a myth. It also touches on the city's early history, including its founding and the rule of Sargon of Akkad, as well as the reign of Hammurabi, who is famous for his law codes and the expansion of Babylon's influence.

05:00

🛡️ Babylon's Rise, Fall, and Cultural Legacy

This section delves into the various stages of Babylon's history, from its resurgence under the rule of Essa Haddan, who rebuilt the city and restored its glory, to its depiction in the Bible, where it is often portrayed negatively, such as in the story of the Tower of Babel. The paragraph also covers the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II, who constructed remarkable buildings and is credited with the potential creation of the Hanging Gardens. The narrative continues through the city's decline after the death of Nebuchadnezzar II, its eventual fall to the Persians under Cyrus the Great, and its continued importance as a center of learning and culture. The paragraph concludes with the city's eventual abandonment and rediscovery by European travelers in the 17th and 18th centuries, leading to increased archaeological interest.

10:01

📚 Babylon's Legacy and Modern Perceptions

The final paragraph reflects on the contrasting portrayals of Babylon in ancient sources versus the Bible, inviting viewers to share their thoughts on why the Bible might present Babylon negatively while other sources praise it. It also serves as a call to action for viewers to support the channel, subscribe for updates, and engage with the content. The paragraph promotes the World History Encyclopedia as a resource for further exploration and learning, highlighting its non-profit status and encouraging support for its mission to provide educational content.

Keywords

💡Babylon

Babylon was an ancient city located in Mesopotamia, which is modern-day Iraq. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the city's historical significance, cultural achievements, and its various rulers. The script mentions Babylon's famous structures, such as the Ishtar Gate and the walls, and its biblical references, indicating its importance in both historical and religious contexts.

💡Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The script refers to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, a list that represents the most remarkable constructions of classical antiquity. This concept is integral to the video's exploration of Babylon's cultural and architectural legacy, even though the existence of the gardens is debated among scholars.

💡Hammurabi

Hammurabi is a key figure in the video, known for his reign as the king of Babylon between 1792 and 1750 BCE. His famous law codes are mentioned, which were a significant legal and social development, spreading throughout his empire and contributing to the centralized government. Hammurabi's rule is highlighted as a period of transformation for Babylon into a powerful and influential city-state.

💡Ishtar Gate

The Ishtar Gate is a monumental structure in Babylon, renowned for its decorations and golden images. It is used in the script to exemplify the grandeur and cultural significance of Babylonian architecture. The gate's mention underscores the city's architectural prowess and its role as a center of cultural and religious importance.

💡Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia, meaning 'land between the rivers,' is the historical region in Western Asia where Babylon was located. The script uses this term to situate Babylon geographically and culturally, highlighting its role as a prominent city in one of the cradles of civilization.

💡Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II is portrayed as a significant ruler of Babylon, known for his extensive renovations and construction projects, including the potential creation of the Hanging Gardens. His reign is depicted as a period of impressive architectural achievements and cultural development in Babylon.

💡Biblical References

The script discusses the various references to Babylon in the Bible, particularly in books like Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Revelation. These references often portray Babylon negatively, in contrast to other ancient sources, and they have fueled interest in Mesopotamian archaeology and the study of Babylon's history.

💡Archaeology

Archaeology is the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts. The script mentions the role of archaeology in uncovering the history of Babylon, from the discovery of cuneiform writing blocks to the explorations that led to a resurgence of interest in the city.

💡Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great is mentioned as the Persian ruler who conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE. His approach to Babylon, which involved diverting the Euphrates River to enter the city, is contrasted with the Persian account of a peaceful takeover. Cyrus's rule is noted for continuing to hold Babylon in high esteem.

💡Administrative Capitals

The script refers to Babylon as one of the administrative capitals under Persian rule, indicating its continued importance as a center of governance and culture. This term highlights Babylon's status as a significant city even after the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

💡Decline and Desertion

The decline and desertion of Babylon is a key part of the video's narrative, describing how the city was gradually abandoned after the death of Alexander the Great and eventually forgotten until its rediscovery in later centuries. This concept illustrates the transient nature of even the most influential cities and civilizations.

Highlights

The walls of Babylon were once considered a wonder of the world.

The famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon may have never actually existed.

Babylon was a city in Mesopotamia, now modern-day Iraq, known as the 'Gate of the Gods'.

Babylon's fame is partly due to numerous biblical references, especially in the books of Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Revelation.

Babylon is known for its Ishtar Gate, magnificent walls, and buildings, and as a great seat of culture and learning.

The Hanging Gardens were man-made terraces with exotic flora and fauna, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Some scholars suggest the Hanging Gardens may have been located in Nineveh, while others question their existence.

Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great, is credited with founding Babylon, although it may have existed before his reign.

Hammurabi, known for his law codes, transformed Babylon into a powerful and influential city in Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi's law codes extended centralized government and provided legal rights and common laws throughout the kingdom.

Babylon's empire fell apart after Hammurabi's death, leading to its sack by the Hittites in 1595 BCE.

Under the rule of the Neo-Assyrian King Sennacherib, Babylon was sacked and its ruins scattered to prevent other cities from following its path.

Esarhaddon, Sennacherib's successor, rebuilt Babylon and returned it to its former glory.

The Bible's portrayal of Babylon as corrupt and wicked contrasts with other ancient sources that admire the city.

Nebuchadnezzar II, a Chaldean king, created the Neo-Babylonian Empire and renovated the city with impressive buildings.

The Ishtar Gate and the immense walls of Babylon were constructed with fired bricks for durability and are still admired today.

Babylon continued to flourish as a seat of learning and culture under Persian rule and was made an administrative capital.

After the death of Alexander the Great, Babylon began to decline and was eventually deserted and forgotten.

European travelers in the 17th and 18th centuries CE sparked interest in Babylon, leading to the development of biblical archaeology.

Archaeological work in the 19th century CE aimed to uncover physical evidence to support biblical narratives.

Transcripts

did you know the walls of babylon were

once considered a wonder of the world

or that the famous hanging gardens may

have never actually

[Music]

existed

hello and welcome to world history

encyclopedia

my name is kelly and today's video is

all about the most famous city from

ancient mesopotamia

babylon don't forget the easiest way to

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babylon was a city in mesopotamia which

is now modern-day

iraq the city was known by the acadians

as barville which means gate of the gods

the city of babylon is so well known to

many due to the numerous references to

it in the bible

although none of them are particularly

glowing comments

it is due to these biblical references

primarily in the books of daniel

jeremiah isaiah and the book of

revelation

that so much interest has been aroused

in mesopotamian archaeology

both in the past and present apart from

its mentions in the bible

babylon is known for many things

including its impressive ishtar gate

magnificent walls and buildings the

belief that it was a great seat of

culture and learning

and the potentially fantastical hanging

gardens of babylon

built by nebuchadnezzar ii for his wife

the hanging gardens of babylon were

man-made terraces

with heaps of exotic flora and fauna and

was considered one of the seven

wonders of the ancient world ruins of

these gardens

have never been found and some scholars

claim they may have actually been at

nineveh

while many others have wondered whether

they even existed at all

although some ancient sources say that

sargon of accord

also known as sargon the great founded

the city of babylon

it is widely believed that babylon was

already founded

prior to the reign of sargon between 23

34

and 2279 bce

babylon seems to have been a fairly

minor city or perhaps even a large port

town on the euphrates river

where it runs closest to the tigris at

the time of sargon's rule

unfortunately the ruins of old babylon

have been lost to us

since the water level has steadily risen

over the years

and the ruins which are visible today

date to over 1 000 years

after the city was founded

the known history of babylon begins with

its most famous king

hammurabi hammurabi reigned between 1792

and 1750 bce and during this time

he transformed the city into one of the

most powerful

and influential in the whole of

mesopotamia

hammurabi is best known for his law

codes which he spread

throughout his empire not only did these

law codes allow hammurabi to extend his

centralized government

far and wide but his subjects felt like

they were benefiting from his rule

by having legal rights and common laws

throughout the kingdom

he improved upon the walls of the city

of babylon

built temples and increased public works

and used his law code to maintain peace

in his extended kingdom

hammurabi was able to extend his

babylonian realm

all throughout mesopotamia and continued

to hold the region

under babylonian control until his death

after hammurabi died

his empire fell apart which made it easy

for the hittites to sack babylon in 1595

bce

after the hittites conquered the city

the cassites conquered it next

and even temporarily renamed it karan

duniash

under the rule of the neo-assyrian king

cena cherub

who reigned between 705 to 681 bce

the assyrians were next to dominate the

city it was at this point that babylon

revolted against their oppressors

so cena cherub sacked and raised the

city and then scattered the ruins

so no other city would follow in

babylon's footsteps

even the people who were meant to be on

cena cherub's side

like his people and his court thought

his actions were impious and extreme

and soon after his destruction of

babylon cena cherub was assassinated by

his sons

his successor essa haddan who ruled

between 681 and 669 bce took a

drastically different approach

and elevated the name of babylon he

rebuilt the great city

making sure to include his name on its

bricks

and soon returned it to its former glory

the city was still highly regarded under

essa haddon's successor

asher bannapur who besieged and sacked

the city

but gave orders that no major damage was

to be done

although in ancient sources babylon is

regarded highly the bible tells a

different story

in genesis 10 you find the story of the

tower of babel

which was raised at babylon by different

people who spoke the same language

this displeased god and so he confused

their tongues and created different

languages

so that they couldn't finish the tower

in the book of daniel

babylon is depicted as corrupt and in

book of jeremiah 59 babylon's fall for

wickedness is predicted

also in book of revelation babylon is

equated with sin and pride

you get the idea babylon was not a

favored city

the end of the assyrian empire marked a

change for babylon

a chaldean named nabo palassa took the

throne

and created what is now known as the

neo-babylonian empire

his son nebuchadnezzar ii reigned from

605 to 562 bce

and renovated the city and created some

of the most impressive buildings

in mesopotamia including the hanging

gardens of babylon

if you believe the ancient sources

although the gardens may have never

existed all ancient sources which

mention the city

of babylon except the bible have nothing

but

admiration and awe for the remarkable

city

the ishtar gate a mammoth structure

decorated with golden images

was often mentioned with reverence as

were the immense walls

which according to some ancient sources

were wide enough to race

chariots along the tops herodotus wrote

that

nebuchadnezzar's city was 89 kilometers

or 55 miles long and that they were wide

enough

for four chariots to ride on them side

by side

while at that time most buildings were

constructed from mud brick

nebuchadnezzar decided to use fired

bricks as they were more durable

indeed nebuchadnezzar's bricks were of a

quality that

may never have been surpassed even today

it is said that much of baghdad is built

with

nebuchadnezzar's bricks and the 19th

century hindia dam

across the euphrates river was mostly

built from 2

500 year old bricks

after the death of nebuchadnezzar ii

babylon continued as an important city

under the next two rulers

nabodanidus and belshazzar but in 539

bce the neo-babylonian empire fell to

the persians

under the rule of cyrus the great after

the battle of opus

according to one account cyrus diverted

the course of the euphrates river

so it fell to a manageable depth and the

persian army could wade across

and march under the walls straight into

babylon

the persian account of this siege claims

that they took the city without a fight

but documents show repairs being needed

to some of the walls and sections of the

city

so maybe it wasn't as easy as the

persians wanted everyone to believe

babylon continued to flourish as a seat

of learning and culture

under persian rule and it was held in

great regard by cyrus the great and his

successors

so much so that they made it one of the

administrative capitals

for their empire when alexander the

great

conquered the persian empire in 331 bce

he continued to hold babylon in high

esteem

and demanded no building be damaged

the death of alexander the great in 323

bce

marked the beginning of the gradual

decline of the city of babylon

and by the time of parthian rule in the

region in 141 bce

babylon had been deserted and forgotten

what remained of the city of babylon

was swept away during the muslim

conquest of the land in 650 ce

and in time was buried beneath the sands

that is until the 17th and 18th century

ce

when european travelers began to explore

the lands

and discover artifacts of value within

the sand

the blocks with cuneiform writing and

the statues uncovered

led to an increase of interest in the

region which was encouraged by its

mention

in the bible this interest helped

develop biblical archaeology by the 19th

century ce when western institutions

sent expeditions

to uncover physical evidence to support

biblical narratives

after the archaeological work of robert

coldaway the city of babylon

the gate of the gods was remembered once

more

why do you think the bible portrays

babylon so negatively

when other ancient sources mainly praise

it

let us know what you think down in the

comments below

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