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The Amorites
A Political History of Mesopotamia in the Early Second Millennium BCE
Series: - Culture and History of the Ancient Near East, Volume: 133
This study of the political history of Mesopotamia â todayâs Iraq and Syria â in the Old Babylonian period (ca. 2000-1600 BCE) is the first comprehensive historical synthesis of this kind published in English after many decades. Based on numerous written sources in Sumerian and Akkadian â royal inscriptions, letters, law collections, economic records, etc. â and on up-to-date research, it presents the regionâs political history in a meticulous geographic and chronological manner. This allows the interested academic and non-academic reader an in-depth view into the scene of ancient Mesopotamia ruled by competing dynasties of West Semitic (Amorite) origin, with a complex web of political and tribal connections between them.
Nathan Wasserman, PhD (1993), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a Professor of Assyriology at the same university. He specializes in the Old Babylonian period, especially in literary and magical texts, and is the author of numerous articles and several books on these subjects. His latest book, authored jointly with Elyze Zomer, is Akkadian Magic Literature: Old Babylonian and Old Assyrian Incantations (Harrassowitz, 2022).
Yigal Bloch, PhD (2013), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a curator at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. He has published several dozen articles in the fields of Assyriology and biblical studies. He is the author of Alphabet Scribes in the Land of Cuneiform: SÄpiru Professionals in Mesopotamia in the Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid Periods (Gorgias Press, 2018).
Yigal Bloch, PhD (2013), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a curator at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. He has published several dozen articles in the fields of Assyriology and biblical studies. He is the author of Alphabet Scribes in the Land of Cuneiform: SÄpiru Professionals in Mesopotamia in the Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid Periods (Gorgias Press, 2018).
Preface
List of Illustrations and Maps
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 The Geographical Setting
2 Nomads and Sedentary Peoples
â1âUrban Dwellers and the People of the Steppe
â2âForefathers and Nomadic Groups: The Ḫana, the Simʾalites, and the Yaminites
â3âThe Amorite Origins of SamsÄ«-Adduâs Dynasty and the Assyrian King List
â4âThe Amorite Descent of ḪammurÄpiâs Dynasty
â5âAmorite Populations in Southern Mesopotamia
â6âAmorite Tribes as an Example of Enclosed Nomadism
â7âThe Amorite Tribal System as Reflected in the Mari Documents
â8âMajor Institutions and Customs among the Amorite Tribes
3 Ethnic Identities in Mesopotamia in the Early Second Millennium BCE
â1âNation, Ethnic Group, and Ethnic Category
â2âThe Amorites as Foreigners in Mesopotamian Cities and Their Self-Perceived Identity
â3âChange of Tribal Affiliation as a Political Decision
â4âCovenant Terminology and Its Meaning for Tribal Links
â5âLanguage as a Vehicle of Ethnic Distinction
â6âThe Multiple Faces of Ethnic Identity
4 The Age of the Amorite Dynasties and the Periodization of Mesopotamian History: Some Basic Observations
â1âPeriodization of Mesopotamian History according to the Astronomical Treatise
5 The Chronological Framework of the Amorite Dynasties
â1âRelative and Absolute Chronology, Synchronisms, and Astronomical Anchors
â2âThe Assyrian King List as a Chronological Source
â3âThe KaneÅ¡ Eponym List and the Relative Chronology of Assyria
â4âYear Names in Southern Mesopotamia and the Kings of the First Dynasty of Babylon
â5âMari: A Kingdom with Two Systems of Year-Reckoning
â6âThe Sumerian King List
â7âFrom Relative to Absolute Chronology: The Venus Tablets of AmmÄ«-á¹£adÅ«qa and the Solar Eclipse in the Mari Eponym Chronicle
â8âDendrochronology: Tree-Rings as a Chronological Tool
6 The Kingdom of Isin
â1âChronology of the Kings of Isin
â2âThe Isin Dynasty from IÅ¡bi-Erra to Lipit-IÅ¡tar
â3âA New Royal Line in Isin: Ur-Ninurta and His Descendants
â4âIsinâs Struggle against Its Neighbors: Erra-imittÄ«, Enlil-bÄni, and Their Successors
â5âThe End of Isin
â6âAnother Successor to the Empire of Ur: The Kingdom of Simurrum
7 The Kingdom of Larsa
â1âThe Isin-Larsa Period and the Chronology of the Kings of Larsa
â2âThe Early Kings
â3âThe Dynasty of NÅ«r-Adad
â4âThe Dynasty of Kudur-Mabuk
â5âThe Babylonian Conquest of Larsa
â6âLarsaâs Revolt against Babylon
8 The Kingdom of Uruk
â1âThe Early Kings of Uruk
â2âThe Sîn-kÄÅ¡id Dynasty
â3âUruk at the Time of the South Mesopotamian Revolt against Babylon
9 The Kingdom of EÅ¡nunna
â1âBetween Ur, Isin, Elam, and the Amorites: The Beginnings of EÅ¡nunna
â2âEÅ¡nunna on the Rise: The Dynasty of IbÄl-pÄ«-El I
â3âEÅ¡nunna at Its Apex: The Reigns of DÄduÅ¡a and IbÄl-pÄ«-El II
â4âThe Babylonian Conquest of EÅ¡nunna
â5âEÅ¡nunnaâs Final Attempts to Regain Independence
10 The Kingdom of Malgium
â1âThe Early Kings of Malgium
â2âA Period of Political Upheavals
â3âThe End of Malgium
11 The Kingdom of AÅ¡Å¡ur
â1âAÅ¡Å¡ur as a City-State
â2âThe Rulers of AÅ¡Å¡ur at Its Apex as a Center of Commerce
â3âThe Assyrian Trade with Anatolia
â4âThe Crisis of the Assyrian Trade and Its Recovery
â5âThe Conquest of AÅ¡Å¡ur by SamsÄ«-Addu
12 The Kingdom of Samsī-Addu
â1âSamsÄ«-Adduâs Family Origins
â2âThe Early Years of SamsÄ«-Addu: The Escape to Babylon and the Conquest of EkallÄtum, AÅ¡Å¡ur, and Mari
â3âThe Kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia
â4âThe Reign of IÅ¡me-DagÄn I
13 The Kingdom of Mari
â1âThe Beginnings of Mari
â2âThe Early Rulers of the Amorite Dynasty in Mari
â3âThe Reign of ZimrÄ«-LÄ«m
â4âThe Babylonian Conquest of Mari
â5âMariâs Successor: The Kingdom of Ḫana
14 The Kingdom of Yamḫad
â1âThe Beginnings of the Amorite Dynasty of Yamḫad
â2âYamḫad as an Ally of Mari: The Reigns of YarÄ«m-LÄ«m I and ḪammurÄpi I
â3âYamḫad from the Death of ḪammurÄpi I to the Hittite Conquest
15 The Kingdom of Qaá¹na
â1âArchaeological Discoveries at Qaá¹na
â2âThe Dynasty of Išḫī-Addu
â3âQaá¹na on the Eve of the Hittite Conquest of Northern Syria
16 The Kingdom of Babylon
â1âChronology of the Kings of Babylon
â2âThe Beginnings of the Kingdom
â3âBabylon at Its Peak: The Reign of ḪammurÄpi
â4âBabylon at the Time of Samsu-ilÅ«na
â5âThe Late Kings of the Amorite Dynasty of Babylon
Concluding Remarks: Instead of an Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
List of Illustrations and Maps
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part 1: The Historical Arena
1 The Geographical Setting
2 Nomads and Sedentary Peoples
â1âUrban Dwellers and the People of the Steppe
â2âForefathers and Nomadic Groups: The Ḫana, the Simʾalites, and the Yaminites
â3âThe Amorite Origins of SamsÄ«-Adduâs Dynasty and the Assyrian King List
â4âThe Amorite Descent of ḪammurÄpiâs Dynasty
â5âAmorite Populations in Southern Mesopotamia
â6âAmorite Tribes as an Example of Enclosed Nomadism
â7âThe Amorite Tribal System as Reflected in the Mari Documents
â8âMajor Institutions and Customs among the Amorite Tribes
3 Ethnic Identities in Mesopotamia in the Early Second Millennium BCE
â1âNation, Ethnic Group, and Ethnic Category
â2âThe Amorites as Foreigners in Mesopotamian Cities and Their Self-Perceived Identity
â3âChange of Tribal Affiliation as a Political Decision
â4âCovenant Terminology and Its Meaning for Tribal Links
â5âLanguage as a Vehicle of Ethnic Distinction
â6âThe Multiple Faces of Ethnic Identity
4 The Age of the Amorite Dynasties and the Periodization of Mesopotamian History: Some Basic Observations
â1âPeriodization of Mesopotamian History according to the Astronomical Treatise
5 The Chronological Framework of the Amorite Dynasties
â1âRelative and Absolute Chronology, Synchronisms, and Astronomical Anchors
â2âThe Assyrian King List as a Chronological Source
â3âThe KaneÅ¡ Eponym List and the Relative Chronology of Assyria
â4âYear Names in Southern Mesopotamia and the Kings of the First Dynasty of Babylon
â5âMari: A Kingdom with Two Systems of Year-Reckoning
â6âThe Sumerian King List
â7âFrom Relative to Absolute Chronology: The Venus Tablets of AmmÄ«-á¹£adÅ«qa and the Solar Eclipse in the Mari Eponym Chronicle
â8âDendrochronology: Tree-Rings as a Chronological Tool
Part 2: Cities, Dynasties, and Kings: Political History
6 The Kingdom of Isin
â1âChronology of the Kings of Isin
â2âThe Isin Dynasty from IÅ¡bi-Erra to Lipit-IÅ¡tar
â3âA New Royal Line in Isin: Ur-Ninurta and His Descendants
â4âIsinâs Struggle against Its Neighbors: Erra-imittÄ«, Enlil-bÄni, and Their Successors
â5âThe End of Isin
â6âAnother Successor to the Empire of Ur: The Kingdom of Simurrum
7 The Kingdom of Larsa
â1âThe Isin-Larsa Period and the Chronology of the Kings of Larsa
â2âThe Early Kings
â3âThe Dynasty of NÅ«r-Adad
â4âThe Dynasty of Kudur-Mabuk
â5âThe Babylonian Conquest of Larsa
â6âLarsaâs Revolt against Babylon
8 The Kingdom of Uruk
â1âThe Early Kings of Uruk
â2âThe Sîn-kÄÅ¡id Dynasty
â3âUruk at the Time of the South Mesopotamian Revolt against Babylon
9 The Kingdom of EÅ¡nunna
â1âBetween Ur, Isin, Elam, and the Amorites: The Beginnings of EÅ¡nunna
â2âEÅ¡nunna on the Rise: The Dynasty of IbÄl-pÄ«-El I
â3âEÅ¡nunna at Its Apex: The Reigns of DÄduÅ¡a and IbÄl-pÄ«-El II
â4âThe Babylonian Conquest of EÅ¡nunna
â5âEÅ¡nunnaâs Final Attempts to Regain Independence
10 The Kingdom of Malgium
â1âThe Early Kings of Malgium
â2âA Period of Political Upheavals
â3âThe End of Malgium
11 The Kingdom of AÅ¡Å¡ur
â1âAÅ¡Å¡ur as a City-State
â2âThe Rulers of AÅ¡Å¡ur at Its Apex as a Center of Commerce
â3âThe Assyrian Trade with Anatolia
â4âThe Crisis of the Assyrian Trade and Its Recovery
â5âThe Conquest of AÅ¡Å¡ur by SamsÄ«-Addu
12 The Kingdom of Samsī-Addu
â1âSamsÄ«-Adduâs Family Origins
â2âThe Early Years of SamsÄ«-Addu: The Escape to Babylon and the Conquest of EkallÄtum, AÅ¡Å¡ur, and Mari
â3âThe Kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia
â4âThe Reign of IÅ¡me-DagÄn I
13 The Kingdom of Mari
â1âThe Beginnings of Mari
â2âThe Early Rulers of the Amorite Dynasty in Mari
â3âThe Reign of ZimrÄ«-LÄ«m
â4âThe Babylonian Conquest of Mari
â5âMariâs Successor: The Kingdom of Ḫana
14 The Kingdom of Yamḫad
â1âThe Beginnings of the Amorite Dynasty of Yamḫad
â2âYamḫad as an Ally of Mari: The Reigns of YarÄ«m-LÄ«m I and ḪammurÄpi I
â3âYamḫad from the Death of ḪammurÄpi I to the Hittite Conquest
15 The Kingdom of Qaá¹na
â1âArchaeological Discoveries at Qaá¹na
â2âThe Dynasty of Išḫī-Addu
â3âQaá¹na on the Eve of the Hittite Conquest of Northern Syria
16 The Kingdom of Babylon
â1âChronology of the Kings of Babylon
â2âThe Beginnings of the Kingdom
â3âBabylon at Its Peak: The Reign of ḪammurÄpi
â4âBabylon at the Time of Samsu-ilÅ«na
â5âThe Late Kings of the Amorite Dynasty of Babylon
Concluding Remarks: Instead of an Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
The book is intended for readers interested in the history of the ancient Near East, including graduate and post-graduate students, academic institutions and libraries.