Babylon

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/babylon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Babylon?Mesopotamia, along the Euphrates River (modern-day Iraq)
2. What is the capital of Babylon?Babylon
3. How big is Babylon?At its peak, the city covered approximately 850 hectares (about 2,100 acres)
4. What language do people speak in Babylon?Akkadian (Babylonian dialect) and Aramaic
5. What is the key dynasty?Neo-Babylonian Empire
6. What made Babylon a powerful city in ancient times?Babylon’s location on the Euphrates River gave it water, trade routes, and fertile land. Its strong laws, like Hammurabi’s code, helped keep order and unite people.

Mesopotamia: An ancient region situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referred to as the 'cradle of civilization'.
Cuneiform: An ancient Mesopotamian writing system characterized by wedge-shaped marks impressed on clay tablets.
Code of Hammurabi: A comprehensive set of laws promulgated by Babylonian King Hammurabi, dating back to the 18th century BCE.
Sexagesimal System: A numeral system with a base of 60, originating in ancient Mesopotamia and influencing time and angle measurements.