BabyloniansWritten by Juliet Kunkel, Rachel Henry, Julia Crowther, Joe Marchesano, Devon Dobres, Max Auborn, and Ireta

Russell

Religion Marduk was the most important god of all

It was a custom for each city to select one god as their special patron

The capital cities god was Marduk, because of this the city had to be great

Ziggurat

Means “to rise high”

A huge ziggurat stood over 300 feet tall

Had a gold roof

It was the home of the gods

Poly theism- Believing in multiple gods

Ziggurat was the home of the gods

Sacrifices were made

RulersKings

Hammurabi

Gilgamesh

Nebuchadnezzar II

Gods

Marduk

CitiesHomes

Most homes were designed with three story living

Even the very poor lived in tiny townhouses

In the courtyard people had domesticated animals and small gardens

Roofs were very important because they provided a forth living space when it became to hot in homes

Babylon was a walled city so all the roof were private

Streets

The streets were very narrow and unpaved

Streets and alleyways provided access to everyone’s front doors

They also served as a garbage dump

On occasion, the city would cover the street with an extra layer of clay which leveled the street but made it higher

Some houses needed to build steps or make a new front door

Cities Cont.300 foot high ziggurat could be seen from

outside the city walls

Procession Street or Avenue lead up to the walls of the city

Huge brick animals along the side of the street

Passed under Ishtar Gates designed with dragons and bulls in honor of Marduk

Hanging garden of Babylon

Function- Royal gardens

Made of Mud bricks, used lead so the structure could be waterproof

Was said to be a gift to Nebuchadnezzar II’s wife

Not actually located in Babylon, actually located in Nineveh

Technologically advanced ways to get water to the top of the structure. Also not to get water into the foundations

Destroyed by an earthquake

Hammurabi’s Code Oldest deciphered writing of significant length in the world

Very strict laws for the Babylonian community

282 laws

Civil laws (marriage, divorce, and disputes)

Criminal laws (stealing, murder, and theft)

More laws towards the men

Women were expected to stay at home and take care of the children; laws reinforced that

Not an even justice: if someone in the lower class commits a crime they will get a bigger punishment if a person in the upper class did the same crime