Early Dynastic Settlement

Before Babylon became a great power, the region was a collection of independent Sumerian and Akkadian city-states.

Key Features of the Early Period:

• Babylon was initially a small city-state under Amorite rulers.
• Influenced heavily by older Sumerian culture (writing, religion, mathematics).
• Gradual expansion due to trade along the Euphrates River.

Early Rulers (pre-Hammurabi):

This period paved the way for Babylon’s first golden age under Hammurabi.

Army

• Mostly citizen-soldiers, not yet a professional army.
• Weapons: bronze spears, axes, daggers, simple bows.
• Soldiers were often farmers who served during conflict.
• Warfare was mostly city-state battles over land, canals, and trade routes.
• Chariots existed but were primitive (two-wheeled, donkey-drawn).

People & Society

• Population: farmers, shepherds, craftsmen, merchants.
• Sumerian influence was strong: architecture, writing, and administration.
• Society was divided into:
  • awīlum – free citizens
  • mushkenum – dependent people
  • wardum – slaves
• Women had legal rights: property, inheritance, business involvement.

Religion

• Polytheistic with strong Sumerian roots:
  • Enlil, Enki, Sin, Shamash, Ishtar
• Babylon’s patron god was not yet Marduk (that came later).
• Temples (Ekur, Eanna) were political and economic centers.
• Priests kept agricultural/astronomical calendars.

Economy

• Agricultural: barley, wheat, dates, sheep, goats.
• Early canal-based irrigation.
• Trade with Sumer, Akkad, Elam.
• Clay tablet contracts appear for the first time.

Culture

• Writing: early Akkadian cuneiform.
• Sumerian literature still dominant.
• Mathematics: beginnings of base-60 system.