Timeline Description: The city of Babylon and the Babylonian Empire reigned for a significant period in the ancient world. The city was frequently sacked, and at the center of a number of political conflicts for many centuries.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1813 BC | Reign of Shamshi-Adad I(1813 to 1781 BCE) Shamshi-Adad I had power in Northern Mesopotamia. The empire ranged from the Euphrates River to the Zagros Mountains. |
| 1792 BC | Reign of Hammurabi(1792 to 1750 BCE) Shamshi-Adad I died, causing some amount of chaos in the Babylonian Empire. Hammurabi gained control of the empire, producing the first written law code. |
| 1749 BC | Reign of Samsuiluna(1749 to 1712 BCE) Hammurabi's son Samsuiluna took power after his father's death. |
| 1800 BC | Shift of Euphrates(18th century BCE) For unknown reasons, the Euphrates River, essential to survival in the Babylonian Empire, changed course in the 18th century BCE. |
| 1595 BC | Sack of Babylon(1595 BCE) Hittite king Mursilis I sacked the city of Babylon. For a period of more than a century following the sack of Babylon, there is little information available. |
| 1450 BC | Kassite Period Began(Mid-15th century BCE) The non-Mesopotamian Kassites took power in Babylonia and re-established Babylonia as the significant power in the southern Mesopotamian area. Kassite-controlled Babylonia lasted for three centuries, focusing on literature and canal building. |
| 1350 BC | Assyrians Gained Power(Mid-14th century BCE) The Assyrians progressively gained power in the region by the mid-14th century BCE, even as the Kassites retained control of the city of Babylon. |
| 1220 BC | Assyrian attacked Babylonia(1220s BCE) The Assyrian Empire, under the reign of King Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243 - 1207 B.C.) attacked the city of Babylon. |
| 1150 BC | Elamites and Assyrians attacked Babylonia(Mid-12th century BCE) In the mid-12th century BCE, both the Elamites and the Assyrians attacked Babylonia. An Elamite captured the last of the Kassite kings. |
| 1125 BC | Reign of Nebuchadrezzar I(1125 to 1104 BCE) The city began to thrive again under Nebuchadrezzar I. Lost monuments and land were regained. |
| 1114 BC | Babylon Sacked(1114 to 1076 BCE) The city of Babylon was repeatedly sacked by the Assyrians during this period. Damage to the city was significant. |
| 850 BC | Assyrian Dominion(Mid-9th to End of 7th century BCE) By the middle of the 9th century, the Assyrians held power over much of the region, including the city of Babylon. |
| 600 BC | Nabopolassar Ruled(6th century BCE) Nabopolassar gained power after the period of Assyrian dominion. This is identified as the Neo-Babylonian period. |
| 600 BC | Rebuilding of the City of Babylon(7th and 6th century BCE) Extensive rebuilding of the city of Babylon occurred during the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. |
| 530 BC | Cyrus of Persia Conquered Babylon(530s BCE) Cyrus of Persia conquered the city of Babylon, ending the Babylonian empire permanently. |