7. The Old Babylonian period, 2004–1595 bce

‘The Old Babylonian period, 2004–1595 bce’ looks at a kingdom that dominated a large area of land in what is now Iraq and part of Syria, the kingdom of Hammurabi of Babylon. Hammurabi of Babylon features frequently in the history books of the ancient Near East. He became well-known despite starting off as one of a number of now largely unknown kings, as he went on to conquer a large body of land. The former kingdoms of Larsa, Eshnunna, and Mari, along with their vassal kingdoms, were all subsumed into the kingdom of Babylon. It took Hammurabi thirty-five years to complete his empire.