Government

The Babylonians had a centralized monarchical government. This government was put in place after other tribes tried to take control over Mesopotamia, mineral resources and the trade routes. The Sumerians and the Akkadians (Sumer-Akkad), two dominant groups in Mesopotamia since the Tigris and Euphrates River emptied into the Persian Gulf, gained control over most of Mesopotamia by about 1900 B.C. Babylon had a king that held power. They had a king because they believed that the king was a god. The king of Babylon was Hammurabi from 1728- 1686 B.C. To maximize the kings power taxation, centralized government, and involuntary military service was established. Also, King Hammurabi created the Code of Hammurabi as laws for the Babylonians to follow. The centralized monarchical government affected everyday life because Babylonians didn’t have the freedom to do anything that they liked. The Babylonians had to follow the Code of Hammurabi and if they went against it, they were killed.