Kassite Empire
(Text by Duane R. Hurst © 2013)
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KASSITE LINKS: Significant Event: Battle of Hulwan in 702 BC Main Cities: Dur-Kurigalzu; Nippur; Uruk Time: 1570-1157 BC Language: Akkadian; Kassite; Sumerian Personage: Kurigalzu I Religion: Kassite Gods Related Country: Iraq Brief History: I have included only a few items concerning the history of this empire. A good source for more details can be found on Wikipedia or in history books. |
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HISTORICAL NOTES:
A military aristocracy called the Kassites originated in Lorestan, which means "Land of the Lurs" (modern southwest Iran). They attacked Babylonia during the reigns of Samsu-Iluna (1749-1712 BC) and Abi-Eshuh (1648-1620 BC), but were repulsed. Circa 1595 BC, Hittites sacked Babylon. Kassites seized Babylonia in 1570 BC, started the "Dynasty of the Sealand," and renamed Babylon as Karanduniash. They later built a capital at Dur-Kurigalzu, in honor of King Kurigalzu I. Kassites consolidated Babylonia from a network of allied cities into a unified state. They also expanded trade with Assyria. In the mid 18th century, King Burna-Buriash I signed a border treaty with rulers of Egypt, Elam and the Hittites. Relative peace prevailed until an Assyrian king, Ashur-uballit I (1365-1330 BC), sacked Babylon to avenge the murder of his son-in-law, Kassite king Burma-Burias II. He installed Kurigalzu II as the first in a series of puppet rulers. Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria conquered the Kassites and ruled in Babylon from 1235 to 1227 BC. He later appointed a Kassite puppet king. In the 12th century BC, Elamites likewise invaded Babylonia. Kassites briefly regained independence (1025-1004 BC) before falling to the Arameans. |
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© Page Publisher: Duane R. Hurst
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