2625x1470 History Ancient Historical Babylon Ar... · Tested

Though much of the city remains unexcavated, its ruins near modern-day Hillah, Iraq, are a . 1.3.2 From the brick reconstructions of the 20th century to the quiet palm groves along the Euphrates, the site remains a powerful symbol of human ingenuity. 1.3.4

Viewing these historical layers in allows us to appreciate the intricate details—the texture of the sun-dried mud bricks and the fine relief carvings—that made this city the jewel of the ancient world. 1.3.1

1. The Blueprint of a Metropolis: Urban Design and Architecture 2625x1470 History ancient historical babylon ar...

: Babylonian scholars were meticulous record-keepers, tracking the motion of Jupiter and predicting eclipses with the Saros cycle —data that modern astronomers still use to study changes in Earth’s rotation. 1.2.7, 1.5.5 3. Iconic Figures: The Kings Who Built an Empire

: Every time you check your watch or use a compass, you are using Babylonian math. They developed a base-60 system that gave us the 60-minute hour and the 360-degree circle. 1.5.6 , 1.5.11 Though much of the city remains unexcavated, its

: King Hammurabi (r. 1792–1750 BCE) established one of the world's first comprehensive legal codes. Engraved on a diorite stele, these 282 laws introduced the concept of "an eye for an eye," aiming to bring a sense of justice to a sprawling empire. 1.2.7 , 1.4.11

: Centuries before the Greeks popularized it, Babylonian architects employed a grid-like street pattern designed for the efficient movement of its nearly 200,000 residents. 1.3.1 , 1.3.7 Iconic Figures: The Kings Who Built an Empire

: The Ishtar Gate , reconstructed in part at the Pergamon Museum , was the eighth gate to the inner city. Its glazed bricks, fired with lapis lazuli-colored minerals, depicted powerful lions, dragons, and bulls to symbolize divine protection. 1.3.10 , 1.4.9