Home Region:  Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)

Amorite Babylonia

2000 BCE 1600 BCE
D G SC WF EQ 2020  iq_babylonia_1 / IqBabAm
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  General Description   The Amorites were a tribal group from the Levant area of Semitic descent. They migrated towards Mesopotamia and Amorite names can be seen in Mesopotamian literature throughout the 3rd millennium BCE. By the 2nd millennium BCE a number of Amorites had managed to gain control of Mesopotamian city-states in the power vacuum created by the collapse of the Ur III period. [1] Very early descriptions suggest they were nomadic, eating raw meat and "careless even of burying their dead", but at least part of the population settled into a sedentary lifestyle and took up the western Semetic language of Akkadian. The city and kingdom of Mari was an Amorite establishment. [2]
One problem encountered when considering the Amorites as a polity is that they are frequently identified by their Amorite name, but it cannot be certain whether this corresponds to an individual who is actually an Amorite or if Amorite names are in general use. For example, the Isin-Larsa period is considered a separate polity from the Old Babylonian, Amorite Dynasty, yet the kings of both cities used Amorite names and titles. [3]
The Babylonian king Sumu-la-el started to assert control over other towns in northern Babylonia and in the first few centuries of the 2nd Millennium Babylon became one of several city-states with a limited and fluctuating control over surrounding areas. This was the situation when Hammurabi came to the throne in 1792. By the end of his reign, he had conquered the whole of Babylon and briefly Assyria. He titled himself "King of the Four Quarters of the World" and "King of Sumer and Akkad" [4]

[1]: Goddeeris, A. 2002. Economy and Society in Northern Babylonia in the Early Old Babylonian Period (ca.2000-1800 BC). Leuven: Peeters Publishers. p.8

[2]: Oates, J. Babylon. Revised Edition. London: Thames and Hudson. p.55

[3]: Goddeeris, A. 2002. Economy and Society in Northern Babylonia in the Early Old Babylonian Period (ca.2000-1800 BC). Leuven: Peeters Publishers. p.8-9

[4]: Oates, J. Babylon. Revised Edition. London: Thames and Hudson. p.65-66

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1) was in:
 (1894 BCE 1596 BCE)   Southern Mesopotamia
Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia
General Variables
Identity and Location Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 38 S Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Original Name Old Babylonian Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Original Name Amorite Dynasty Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Capital Babylon Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Alternative Name Amurru Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years [1792 BCE ➜ 1750 BCE] Confident
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Duration [2000 BCE ➜ 1600 BCE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Supracultural Entity Mesopotamia Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Sealand Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity elite migration Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Preceding Entity
CE
elite migration; Isin [elite replacement]    Update here
Confident
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Degree of Centralization nominal Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Degree of Centralization confederated state Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Language Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family West Semetic Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Language Amorite Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Language Old Babylonian Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Religion Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Territory [400,000 to 500,000] km2 Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 4 Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Religious Level - Undecided 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Administrative Level 6 Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Professions Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Law Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Judge Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
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Port Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Canal Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Script Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
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Scientific Literature Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Information / Money Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
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Precious Metal Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Article Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Information / Postal System Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
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Courier Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Moat Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Earth Rampart Present Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Military use of Metals Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Bronze Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Projectiles Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Self Bow Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Javelin Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Inferred 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Handheld weapons Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sword Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Unknown Suspected 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Armor Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Helmet Present Confident 2000 BCE  1600 BCE
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Naval technology Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Human Sacrifice Amorite Babylonia (iq_babylonia_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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