The Babylonians

Finally, toward the middle of the 16th century BC, a Kassite ruler named Agum beccame master of Babylonian and extended its territory from the Euphrates River to the Zagros Mountains. Under Kassite rule, Babylonia once again became an important and powerful city. At the beginning of the 15th century BC for example, it was one of the four major powers of the.
             .
             Page 2.
             Orient, the other three being the Egytain, Mitannic, and Hittite empires. A revolt then broke out in southern and central Babylonian and a new dynasty of Isin was founded. Toward the end of the 12th century BC, Nebuchadnezzar I, one of the Isin kings, defeated the Elamites and even attacked Assyria. Soon after, Aramaean nomads began swarming into Babylonian. After that, the country was in a state of political chaos for about two centuries. (www.comenius.g-otte.de.com) (www.crystalinks.com).
             Among the surrounding tribes was one powerful group known as the Chaldeans. They settled in and dominated the district along the Perisan Gulf. Beginning in the 9th century BC the Chaldeans were destined to play an important political role in the "History of the Orient". Their rulers helped destroy the Assyria Empire and at least for a brief period, made Babylonian, or Chaldea, the dominant power of Mesopotamia. (www.crystalinks.com).
             The culture is based on the Sumerian civilization which lived in the region previously. The Syrians abandoned their own culture and adopted the Babylonian's culture. It was very refined and based on a strong belief in gods that effect every part of life.