Old Babylonian Empire

Old Babylonian Empire
c. 1894 BC – c. 1595 BC
The extent of the Old Babylonian Empire at the start and end of Hammurabi of Babylon's reign, c. 1792 BC – c. 1750 BC
The extent of the Old Babylonian Empire at the start and end of Hammurabi of Babylon's reign, c. 1792 BC – c. 1750 BC
CapitalBabylon
Common languagesAkkadian (official), Sumerian (literary), Amorite
Religion
Babylonian religion
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
• c. 1894–1881 BC
Sumu-abum (first)
• c. 1626–1595 BC
Samsu-Ditana (last)
Historical eraBronze Age
• Established
c. 1894 BC
c. 1595 BC
• Disestablished
c. 1595 BC
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Isin-Larsa period
Kassite dynasty
First Sealand dynasty
Today part ofIraq
Syria
A map of Iraq showing important sites that were occupied by the First Babylonian Dynasty (clickable map)

The Old Babylonian Empire, or First Babylonian Empire, is dated to c. 1894–1595 BC, and comes after the end of Sumerian power with the destruction of the Third Dynasty of Ur, and the subsequent Isin-Larsa period. The chronology of the first dynasty of Babylonia is debated; there is a Babylonian King List A[1] and also a Babylonian King List B, with generally longer regnal lengths.[2] In this chronology, the regnal years of List A are used due to their wide usage.

  1. ^ BM 33332.
  2. ^ BM 38122.