Babylon: The City at the Center of the World - The Concise History of Babylonia (2000-539 BC)

This program explores the history of the ancient city of Babylon and the land once known as Babylonia. We'll uncover the story of this great city over the course of fifteen centuries and learn about its impact and why it was so beloved as well as hated by so many in the ancient world. We'll also meet an interesting and rather eclectic cast of kings including Hammurabi, Zimri-Lim, Rim-Sin, Samsu-iluna, Marduk-apla-iddina II, Sargon II, Sennacherib, Ashurbanipal, Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar I & II, Nabonidus, Cyrus the Great and many more.

Contents:

00:00 Introduction
04:00 Before Babylon: The Fall of the Neo-Sumerian Empire
05:30 Ibbi-Sin and Ishbi-Erra
09:27 Letter of Puzur-Numushda to Ibbi-Sin
12:21 Fall of Ur and the Birth of Babylonian Civilization
15:11 Dynasties of Isin and Larsa (Isin-Larsa Period)
19:00 The First Dynasty of Babylon
26:32 Hammurabi of Babylon
27:48 Zimri-Lim of Mari
29:48 War with Eshnunna
30:46 The Sukkalmah of Elam
33:12 War with Elam
35:51 Hammurabi and Rim-Sin
39:41 Hammurabi and Zimri-Lim
42:24 The Law Code of Hammurabi
46:07 Rebellions during the Reign of Samsu-iluna
52:30 The Last Four Kings of the First Dynasty
55:29 The Hittite Invasion of Babylonia
58:03 The Kassites take Control
01:03:45 The Kassites Reunite Babylonia
01:06:30 Rivalry with Assyria
01:09:05 Assyria show Babylon who’s Boss
01:11:40 Tukulti-Ninurta’s Conflict with the Kassites
01:14:35 The Second Sack of Babylon
01:18:37 Elamite Incursions
01:20:10 Babylon Bounces Back
01:22:36 The End of the Kassite Era
01:25:55 The Second Dynasty of Isin
01:27:23 Nebuchadnezzar I Avenges Babylon
01:33:50 Life under the Second Dynasty of Isin
01:34:56 Literary Works: Enuma Elish and Sakkiku
01:37:24 More Assyrian Meddling
01:43:43 Dark Age and Mysterious Dynasties of Babylon
01:44:40 Second Dynasty of the Sealand
01:47:43 The Bazi Dynasty
01:48:11 The Elamite Dynasty
01:49:10 Dynasty E
01:53:52 Tiglath-pileser III and the Neo-Assyrian Era of Babylon
02:01:48 Marduk-apla-iddina II of Babylon and Sargon the II of Assyria
02:11:19 Sennacherib
01:24:50 The Destruction of Babylon
02:27:50 Esarhaddon Rebuilds Babylon
02:33:12 Ashurbanipal and Shamash-shumu-ukin
02:39:40 Nabopolassar and the Fall of Assyria
02:46:54 Nebuchadnezzar II
02:53:10 Nabonidus, the Last Babylonian King
02:56:40 Cyrus the Great and the Persian Conquest of Babylon
03:01:04 End of an Era
03:07:27 Thank You and Patrons

Related Videos:

The Complete and Concise History of the Sumerians and Early Bronze Age Mesopotamia (7000-2000 BC)

The World's First Superpower: Sargon of Akkad and the Mighty Akkadian Empire - Bronze Age History

Who was the Greatest "King of Sumer and Akkad"? - 10 Greatest Kings of Ancient Mesopotamia

Quick History of Bronze Age Languages of Ancient Mesopotamia (Sumerian, Akkadian, Elamite, Kassite)

Machinimas created using Total War: Rome 2 Age of Bronze mod

Sources and Suggested Reading:

A History of Babylon, 2200 BC - AD 75 - Paul-Alain Beaulieu
A History of the Ancient Near East: ca. 3000-323 BC, Third Edition - Marc Van De Mieroop
Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization - Paul Kriwaczek
The Ancient Near East: Historical Sources in Translation - Mark W. Chavalas
The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy - Mario Liverani
Ancient Iraq - Georges Roux
Babylonia under the Sealand and Kassite Dynasties - Edited by Gonzalo Rubio
Hammurabi of Babylon - Dominque Charpin
King Hammurabi of Babylon - Marc Van De Mieroop
Much Ado about Marduk - Jennifer Finn
The Babylonian World - Edited by Gwendolyn Leick
Early Antiquity - I. M. Diakonoff
The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East: Volume I - Edited by Karen Radner, Nadine Moeller and D. T. Potts
The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East: Volume II - Edited by Karen Radner, Nadine Moeller and D. T. Potts
Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature - Benjamin R. Foster
Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East - Amanda H. Podany
The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy - Mario Liverani

Follow History with Cy:

Music:

Epidemic Sound

#babylon #ancienthistory #bronzeage

[jartv]

As a Mexican in Wisconsin finding a friend who wants to watch 3 hours of Babylonian history I’m grateful for the internet, really wish I had more real life friends who find this interesting

[MarcusAgrippa]

Holy crap!
3 hours of ancient Babylonian stories with Cy?
It's a Christmas miracle!

[vishkumru]

A concise, lucid and masterly lesson on the history of southern Mesopotamia. As some one similarly passionate about Mesopotamian history, i can not help noticing a recurrent pattern in it. The forces from the desert, the forces from Elam and forces from northern Iran/ Caucus have interplayed with the native Sumerian culture that shaped its story over millenia. Akkadians, Amorites, Assyrians, Aramaeans were those desert forces ( later Arabs). Elam had love - hate relationship from Sumerian times till Neo- Babylonian times, It should be noted that the Achaemenids came under Elamite tutelage before they conquered Medes and Neo-Babylonians. Then there are these forces, the northern Iran - Indo European ones. Possibly Gutians, but defenitely Hittites, Mittani, Kassites, Medes and Parthians. These three forces interacted with the native Sumerian core, inheriting its wisdom and spreading it to farther parts of the world. That story continued, in Greece and Rome, In Iran and India. Thanks for your brilliant history lessons and you really rekindled my interest in the history of antiquity. A few suggestions. If you can dwelve more upon the bronze age collapse and its consequences in both Mesopotamia and also Egypt, that will be great. Also if you can link the Mesopotamian history with Indus Valley history. Second millenium BC saw the end of that civilization as well and its links with Mesopotamia from Sumerian times is well known. Hoping to see more content from you.

[TimeTrekTaless]

Your firsthand experience at Babylon adds such depth to our understanding of its significance. Your appreciation for preservation echoes the sentiments of many who value our shared history. Thank you for your kind words and for recognizing the effort put into making this program informative and engaging.

[metaltorso]

Another day, another morning of waking up to something i've never searched for

[faryafaraji]

I’m so glad this one got as many views as it did, you deserve each and every one for such a megalithic project; can’t wait to get the popcorn and enjoy the epic 3 hour ride!

[Richardbutticus]

I was fortunate enough to visit the ruins of Babylon. Bar none, the most memorable location I’ve ever been too. It’s remarkable, impressive, important and should be protected. Preserved for the sake of history and humanity.

[polar-bear-boyfriend]

I love the animated way you read primary sources, it really makes the history come alive and feel Real and human. Like, I'm not just passively learning about this historical topic, I felt like I was hearing and making a connection to the people living so long ago. You are a brilliant story teller. And it felt like I was there in the palaces and courtyards of Babylon, witnessing a scribe recite the great history of the city to a crowd on the edge of their seats. Many thanks to your channel and your work!

[donaldcrawfordiii]

Seems like Babylon was involved in continuous fighting for centuries without end! Enjoyed the program! Thankyou for all your effort in making this sir!👍👍👍👍

[jamesdeen]

WOW, your hard work and commitment to accuracy is very commendable and speaks loudly of your character. Your voice lends itself well to the format and keeps us all interested and entertained. Thank You. Merry Christmas.

[harryedwards]

Brilliant and I've not even watched it yet. And what is good is because it's from Cy we know it will actually be about the Babylonian Empire and not the earlier Summerian or Akkadian civilisations who some YouTube commentators seem unable to distinguish between, electing to refer to them all as Babylonians.
Sometimes even at a time before the City/Town/Village/ A single hut there.... in Babylon existed .

[mattstakeontheancients]

This is awesome. Glad to see your channel growing. It’s stuff like this that sets you apart.

[firstconsul]

Now that was a journey. It's amazing to me that civilization was so complex in the era where so much rich history is glossed over in favour of Sargon and Hammurabi. It also astounds me that this era, which was as distant to the Late Roman Republic and Early Principate (my favourite period of ancient history) as they are to us, is yet remembered in such detail.
So much calamity has occurred over the millennia since these people lived and these men ruled, yet somehow the remnants of their civilization can be recalled by us now.

[wrath]

Nice to actually see praise for Babylon every once in a while. It's a breath of fresh air compared to all the bashing I seen over the years.

If they where really as bad as people say they were, they wouldn't have lasted a single century. They were just a nation of people doing what nations did back in that time period.

[TheMrBrosef]

I could not ask for a better Christmas gift. Thank you Cy for educating me so much.

[garykeenan]

Excellent work all around. Sustaining a narrative this detailed over 3 hours is a challenge on any subject. This is your best work yet that I've seen. Congratulations and happy New Year.

[joeshmoe]

Really cool video Cy Guy! Extra thanks for the extended cut, we love it.

[jakobo]

Yes... please bring more large videos like this, they are the best by far.

[Amadeu.Macedo]

Fabulous documentary, CY! Thank you so much for providing a (near) complete historical narration for the Babylonian empire. Now, thanks to you, I have access to a (non-academic) list of Babylonian rules along with their concise historical timeline. BRAVO! 👏 💓

[Bibbzyy]

Merry, freaking Christmas to all of us! Your videos are my go to for so many things, and to have your biggest one yet is the best present! Thank you for working so hard to make it this amazing!