A time of political instability.

Dynasties of This Period:

• Second Dynasty of Isin

• Short-lived dynasties with frequent conflicts.

Characteristics:

• Babylon rebuilt after Elamite invasions.

• Loss of power to rising Assyria.

Cultural continuation but little political influence.

Army

• Less unified; city militias became more common.

• Frequent conflicts with Assyria and Elam.

• Technology stagnated compared to neighbors.

People & Society

• Frequent political change and local uprisings.

• Many small dynasties and short-lived kings.

• Decline in urban centers due to instability.

Religion

• Worship of Marduk remained central.

• Foreign invasions damaged many temples.

• Religious texts preserved by scholarly families.

Economy

• Trade networks weakened.

• Agriculture suffered from neglect of irrigation canals.

• Some return to localized economies.

Culture

• Literary tradition remained strong despite political chaos.

• Scholars preserved Sumerian texts through copying.