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Hammurabi

 

            Hammurabi has achieved legendary status in history principally because he effected great successful changes in all aspects of Mesopotamian life. Hammurabi revolutionized the way in which ancient Mesopotamia functioned; he systematically unified small city-states into an empire and he established and recorded law and order. Hammurabi successfully merged Sumerian and Babylonian society and religion, created economic stability and developed irrigation and defense projects. Through these great transformations Hammurabi has shown himself worthy of legendary status. .
             Hammurabi's rule from 1792-1750 BCE, has been continually viewed as the beginning of the creation of the Babylonian empire. He was intelligent and tactful during the process of unifying all the small-city states into one centralized administrative empire. Hammurabi was a tremendously multi-talented leader to be able to create an empire and then effectively personally govern it. Hammurabi conquered much land but in doing so he was a very humane leader. He conquered by watching for the weaknesses of the societies he wished to rule and then attacked in ways that resulted in minimal loss of life. In many cases it is recorded that Hammurabi would flood out a village diminishing their food sources. Conquering lands with respect for human life in turn earned him more respect from his people. Because he aimed for the least lives lost when attacking. This also resulted in more military support from the people and therefore more support to conquer again. Using these diplomatic tactics during his rule Hammurabi expanded and revived the Babylonian empire. .
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             Hammurabi's social genius is to be commended in that when he unified the lands he unified the people carefully and steadily. When Hammurabi conquered he strived not to be seen as a dictator by compromising many aspects of Sumerian life. The language did change from Sumerian to Babylonian, but he allowed the Sumerian dialect to be practiced primarily where religion was concerned.


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