Fertile Crescent: The Fertile Crescent is the name given to the region of land in the Near East that is considered to be extremely fertile. It is general defined starting in Egypt and running in a Quarter Moon to the Persian gulf in Southern Iraq. The placement and purpose has directly impact on the history of the Ancient Near East and the development of the cultures that inhabit it.
Mesopotamia : The name Mesopotamia comes from the Greek term land between two rivers, it is used to describe the region of Modern day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey. It is within this region that the Babylon emerged and its position and climate played an important role in developing the culture and people.
Hammurabi's Code: Hammurabi's Code or the Code of Hammurabi's was a set of laws established in 1745 BCE by the king of Babylon. The laws deal with a range of issues such as payment for injuries, laws regarding women and marriage, punishments and also laws regarding trade. While they were established before the Neo Babylonian empire it is important to note that they were still followed and referred to at this time.
Awelu: The Awelu were the upper class as identified by the code of Hammurabi and general included the King and his family, Nobles and rich families and people who worked in Public office. They had the most rights and freedoms of any of the class.
Mushkenu: The Mushkenu were the middle class or serf class and although they were considered freeman the majority of them did not own property, rather they worked for the Awelu in return for land.
Wardu: The Wardu were the slave class and as such did not enjoy any of freedoms the other classes enjoyed, however it is important to note that there were two types of slavery in Babylon. The first was Chattel slavery in which a Babylonian would go into slavery to sell their debts or sell their children, this type of slavery could end and the slave could rise back through the ranks. The other type of slavery was to those who where captured in war and as a rule this type generally did not gain their freedom.
Mesopotamia : The name Mesopotamia comes from the Greek term land between two rivers, it is used to describe the region of Modern day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey. It is within this region that the Babylon emerged and its position and climate played an important role in developing the culture and people.
Hammurabi's Code: Hammurabi's Code or the Code of Hammurabi's was a set of laws established in 1745 BCE by the king of Babylon. The laws deal with a range of issues such as payment for injuries, laws regarding women and marriage, punishments and also laws regarding trade. While they were established before the Neo Babylonian empire it is important to note that they were still followed and referred to at this time.
Awelu: The Awelu were the upper class as identified by the code of Hammurabi and general included the King and his family, Nobles and rich families and people who worked in Public office. They had the most rights and freedoms of any of the class.
Mushkenu: The Mushkenu were the middle class or serf class and although they were considered freeman the majority of them did not own property, rather they worked for the Awelu in return for land.
Wardu: The Wardu were the slave class and as such did not enjoy any of freedoms the other classes enjoyed, however it is important to note that there were two types of slavery in Babylon. The first was Chattel slavery in which a Babylonian would go into slavery to sell their debts or sell their children, this type of slavery could end and the slave could rise back through the ranks. The other type of slavery was to those who where captured in war and as a rule this type generally did not gain their freedom.