Slavery in the Ancient Near East: Assyria, Babylon, and Legal Codes (c. 2000–539 BCE)

1. Neo-Assyrian Empire expands mass deportations and forced labor

   Jan 1, 9110 BCELabels: Neo-Assyrian Empire, Deportation

   • CDLI
   • ORACC

2. Code of Ur-Nammu codifies slavery norms

   Jan 1, 2100 BCELabels: Code of, Sumeria

   • WHE
   • Ur Nammu

3. Code of Lipit-Ishtar addresses fugitive slaves and status

   Jan 1, 1934 BCELabels: Code of, Isin Dynasty

   • Britannica
   • COJS

4. Laws of Eshnunna regulate social status and slaves

   Jan 1, 1930 BCELabels: Laws of, Old Babylonian

   • Eshnunna
   • Britannica

5. Code of Hammurabi compiles extensive slave law

   Jan 1, 1750 BCELabels: Code of, Babylon

   • Britannica
   • Hammurabi

6. Middle Assyrian Laws formulated in Middle Assyrian period

   Jan 1, 1300 BCELabels: Middle Assyrian, Assyria

   • Assyrian law
   • BiblicalSch

7. Middle Assyrian Laws survive mainly as later copies

   Jan 1, 1100 BCELabels: Middle Assyrian, A ur

   • BiblicalSch
   • Assyrian law

8. Tiglath-Pileser III era intensifies captive-taking

   Jan 1, 733 BCELabels: Tiglath-Pileser III, Neo-Assyrian Empire

   • CDLI
   • Nimrud

9. Egibi archive begins documenting Neo-Babylonian private slavery

   Jan 1, 602 BCELabels: Egibi Archive, Neo-Babylonian

   • Egibi
   • DeGruyter

10. Documented slave sale from Egibi archive

    Jan 1, 554 BCELabels: Egibi Archive, Slave Sale

    • Met

11. Cyrus conquers Babylon and issues Cyrus Cylinder inscription

    Jan 1, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus the

    • Cyrus Cyl
    • WHE

12. Achaemenid takeover ends Neo-Babylonian legal-political framework

    Oct 1, 539 BCELabels: Achaemenid Empire, Babylonia

    • Cyrus
    • Cyrus Cyl