The provided academic text offers a comprehensive overview of the Kassite Dynasty, which ruled Babylonia for over four centuries during the Middle Babylonian period (c. 1595–1155 BCE). It examines the Kassites' obscure origins in the Zagros Mountains and their unique, unclassified language, noting their gradual infiltration and eventual rise to power after the Hittite sack of Babylon. The sources detail the structure of the Kassite state, highlighting key monarchs, centralized administration, and the innovative kudurru land grant system as foundations for their enduring stability and the unification of southern Mesopotamia into "Karduniaš." Furthermore, the text explores Babylonia's role as a "Great Power" in Late Bronze Age diplomacy, particularly through the Amarna Letters, and its complex relationships with neighboring empires like Assyria and Elam, which ultimately led to the dynasty's decline and fall. Finally, the sources reassess the Kassite legacy, arguing against the "dark age" characterization and emphasizing their crucial contributions to cultural preservation, technological advancement, and the lasting political and administrative framework of Babylonian civilization.
This page was created on: August 11, 2025