~ 2000 BCE – The Amorites, nomadic tribes from Syria, invade Sumer and Akkad. Several cities fall including Babylon – each is ruled by a different Amorite family The Amorites adopt much of Mesopotamian religion and culture as their own ~ 1792 BCE – Hammurabi becomes King of Babylon Hammurabi would proceed to conquer all of Sumer and Akkad, uniting Mesopotamia and ruling from Babylon

~ 1754 BCE Hammurabi created with one of the first written law codes in human history Prior to this each city-state in Mesopotamia had its own set of laws These laws were written on a large black stone and set in the centre of town for all to see This ensured that all could know the law and laws couldn’t be made up on the whim of a ruler The code consisted of 282 laws which would influence many other cultures

Legal Principles of Hammurabi – “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” – Punishments would be based upon social class of lawbreaker. Wealthy citizens would pay fines, commoners would face physical punishment. Government had a responsibility for what occurred in society.

Hammurabi’s descendants were not able to keep Mesopotamia united ~ 1595 BCE – The Hittite’s, utilizing horse drawn chariots and iron weapons, invaded Mesopotamia and the Babylonian kingdom began to crumble Other invaders, such as the Kassites, would finish the job Never the less, Hammurabi’s law code would ensure that Ancient Babylon would leave a great legacy