Isin-Larsa period | |||||||||||
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c. 2025 BCE – c. 1763 BCE | |||||||||||
Capital | Isin and Larsa | ||||||||||
Common languages | Akkadian, Sumerian | ||||||||||
Religion | Akkadian religion | ||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
King | |||||||||||
Historical era | Bronze Age | ||||||||||
• Established | c. 2025 BCE (MC) | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 1763 BCE (MC) | ||||||||||
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Today part of |
The Isin-Larsa period (c. 2025–1763 BCE, Middle Chronology, or 1961–1699 BCE, Short Chronology)[1] is a phase in the history of ancient Mesopotamia, which extends between the end of the Third Dynasty of Ur and the conquest of Mesopotamia by King Hammurabi of Babylon leading to the creation of the First Babylonian dynasty.[2] According to the approximate conventional dating, this period begins in 2025 BCE and ended in 1763 BCE.[1] It constitutes the first part of the Old Babylonian period (2025–1595 BCE), the second part being the period of domination of the first dynasty of Babylon, which ends with the Sack of Babylon in 1595 BCE and the rise of the Kassites.[2]
The Third Dynasty of Ur immediately preceded the Isin-Larsa period, and its fall was due to the combined attacks of the Amorites from the west, and the Elamites from the east.[3] As its name suggests, the Isin-Larsa period saw successively the emergence of two great powers in Lower Mesopotamia: the kingdom of Isin, which attempts to seek the succession of the kingdom of Ur after its fall and established the Dynasty of Isin, and the kingdom of Larsa, whose fall marks the end of the period.[2] In reality, neither of these two kingdoms exercised an undeniable hegemony in Lower Mesopotamia, and they had to coexist with other less powerful kingdoms (such as Uruk, Babylon, and Mankisum), while further north their influence was non-existent and gave way to other powerful political entities (Eshnunna, Ekallatum, Mari, Yamkhad). The dynasties of this period have in common a Semitic Amorite origin, even if they quickly acculturated to Mesopotamian traditions.[2]