Babylon

ancient mesopotamia · powerful empires · archaeology

A mighty empire. Babylon was the center of two great empires: the Old Babylonian Empire around 1900 to 1600 BC and the Neo-Babylonian Empire around 600 BC. At its peak, Babylon controlled huge territories and was famous for its wealth and power.

Located on the Euphrates. Babylon sat on the lower Euphrates River in southern Mesopotamia, in what is now Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad. Being near the river made it perfect for farming, trade, and becoming a major city.

Center of culture. Babylon was one of the most important cities of the ancient Near East, a hub where art, writing, science, and law all flourished. Its influence spread across the entire region for hundreds of years.

Multiple rulers called it home. Many different empires saw Babylon as so important that they made it their capital or a major regional center. Even the Persian Achaemenid Empire chose to rule parts of their lands from this great city.

Eventually faded away. Over time, especially during the Hellenistic period after Greek influence spread, Babylon's power and importance declined. Today it lies in ruins near the modern city of Hillah in Iraq.