1 102 A The Babylonians @ After about 2000 BC southern Mesopotamia experienced an agricultural decline and the political focus shifted northward. From the states vying for power, Babylon emerged triumphant under Hammurabi, famous for his code of law. Babylon had periods of recession but dominated central Mesopotamia until its overthrow by the Assyrians from further north.
# Babylonians, Hammurabi
2 102 D The Hittites @ Anatolia was a land of small city states, unified around 1650 BC under the rule of the Hittites. They developed into a major power, vying with the Egyptians and the north Mesopotamian Mitanni for control of the profitable cities of the Levant. To the west of the Hittites lay other lands and cities, including Troy.
# Hittites, Pottery fragment depicting Hittite fortified building
3 102 C The Levant @ The trading cities of the Levant, creators of the alphabet, were a rich temptation to neighbouring major powers and from around 1800 BC, they were strongly fortified. Around 1200 BC, the coastal lands were ravaged by bands of unknown origin, known as the Sea Peoples, causing the collapse of Levantine cities and seriously affecting the Egyptians.
# Levant and Sea Peoples, Egyptian relief from Medinet Habu of battle between Egyptians and Sea People
4 102 B Indo-Europeans @ Before 2000 BC groups ultimately of steppe origin, speaking Indo-European languages, were present in Anatolia, where they included the ancestors of the Hittites, and were spreading through the Iranian plateau where they gave rise to the Medes and the Persians. For a time they ruled Mitanni, a major kingdom in north Mesopotamia.
# Indo- Europeans and Iranian plateau, Hittite god figure
