Editing Old Babylonian Empire (section)

==King Hammurabi==
{{Main|Hammurabi}}
{{See also|Code of Hammurabi}}
[[File:F0182 Louvre Code Hammourabi Bas-relief Sb8 rwk.jpg|thumb|270px|Hammurabi (standing), depicted as receiving his royal insignia from [[Shamash]] (or possibly [[Marduk]]). Hammurabi holds his hands over his mouth as a sign of prayer<ref>{{citation|last=Roux|first=Georges|title=Ancient Iraq|date=27 August 1992|page=266|chapter=The Time of Confusion|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=klZX8B_RzzYC&pg=PA266|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|isbn=9780141938257|author-link=Georges Roŭ}}</ref> (relief on the upper part of the stele of [[code of Hammurabi|Hammurabi's code of laws]]).]]
{{multiple image
| title=Code of Hammurabi
| image1 = Prologue Hammurabi Code Louvre AO10237.jpg
| total_width = 280
| caption1 = The code on clay tablets
| image2 = P1050763 Louvre code Hammurabi face rwk.JPG
| caption2 = The code on a diorite stele
| footer = Two versions of the [[Code of Hammurabi]] at the [[Louvre]]
| direction = 
}}
[[Hammurabi]] is also at times referred to as "Hammurapi" in ancient texts, including multiple primary-source Babylonian letters. This is a common phenomenon in Amorite names. (Another Amorite of the era, "Dipilirabi", is also known as "Dipilirapi".).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Luckenbill|first1=D.D|title=The Name Hammurabi|date=1984|pages=253}}</ref>

The [[Code of Hammurabi]] — one of the oldest written laws in history, and one of the most famous ancient texts from the Near East, and among the best known artifacts of the ancient world — is from the first Babylonian dynasty. The code is written in cuneiform on a 2.25 meter (7 foot 4½ inch) diorite stele. At the top, it portrays the Babylonian king receiving his kingship from the sun god [[Shamash]]; on the bottom is the collection of written laws. The text itself explains how Hammurabi came to power and created a set of laws to ensure justice throughout his territory — emphasizing that these are the divine roles that were given to him.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Coogan|first1=Michael D.|title=Ancient Near Eastern Texts|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=87–90}}</ref>

Before presenting the laws written in the Code, Hammurabi states, "When the god Marduk commanded me to provide just ways for the people of the land (in order to attain) appropriate behavior, I established truth and justice as the declaration of the land, I enhanced the well-being of the people." It then goes on to detail the laws of just punishment for crimes and provide rules for his people to abide by.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Coogan|first1=Michael D.|title=Ancient Near Eastern Texts|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=87–90}}</ref>

King Hammurabi ruled Babylon from 1792 to 1750 BC. When he first came to power, the empire only consisted of a few towns in the area near Babylon: [[Dilbat]], [[Sippar]], [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]], and [[Borsippa]]. By 1762 BC, Hammurabi managed to succeed in capturing the formidable power of [[Eshnunna]], inheriting its well-established trade routes and the economic stability that came along with them. It was not long before Hammurabi's armies took [[Assyria]] and parts of the [[Zagros Mountains]]. Eventually in 1761 BC, Babylon gained control over [[Mari, Syria|Mari]], making up virtually all the territory of [[Mesopotamia]] that had been under the [[Third Dynasty of Ur]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Podany|first1=Amanda H.|title=Brotherhood of Kings|date=2010|pages=65}}</ref>

During Hammurabi's thirtieth year as king, he conquered [[Larsa]] from [[Rim-Sin I]], thus, gaining control over the lucrative urban centers of [[Nippur]], [[Ur]], [[Uruk]], and [[Isin]]. Hammurabi was one of the most notable kings of the first Babylonian dynasty because of his success in gaining control over Southern Mesopotamia and establishing Babylon as the center of his Empire. Babylon would then come to dominate Mesopotamia for over a thousand years.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Podany|first1=Amanda H.|title=Brotherhood of Kings|date=2010|pages=65}}</ref>

Zimri-Lim, king of the nearby polity of [[Mari, Syria|Mari]], plays a significant role for modern historians. He contributed immense amounts of historical writing that describe the history and diplomacy of the first Babylonian dynasty during Hammurabi's reign. The archives of Hammurabi at the site of Babylon cannot be recovered, since its remains are under the local water table, and have practically turned to mud.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Klengel-Brandt|first1=Evelyn|title=Babylon}}</ref> But Zimri-Lim's palace at Mari held an archive that included letters and other texts that provide insight into the alliance between the king and Hammurabi, as well as other leaders in the Syro-Mesopotamian region. These documents survived because Hammurabi had burned the palace down — which buried the material, thus preserving it.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Podany|first1=Amanda H.|title=Brotherhood of Kings|date=2010|pages=70}}</ref> War was a common occurrence for the kingdoms in Syria and Mesopotamia, so the majority of the documents from that era were in regard to military affairs. The documents included letters written by the messengers of the kings, discussing conflicts, divine oaths, agreements, and treaties between the powers.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Podany|first1=Amanda H.|title=Brotherhood of Kings|date=2010|pages=72}}</ref>