Babylon was an ancient city of Lower Mesopotamia. It gained its independence after the period of the Sumerian Renaissance, although there are mentions of its existence from as early as Sargon of Akkad. After a long time witnessing the struggles between the regional states of Isin, Larsay Ešnunna, Babylon gradually became a regional power, first replacing the role that had Akkad or Kiš to later become the capital of a vast empire under the mandate of Hammurabi (XVIII century BC). Since then it has become a great political, religious and cultural center. In the year 312 a. C. Seleucus I Nicator moved the capital of the Seleucid Empire to Seleucia, located on the Tigris River and not on the Euphrates by speed of new commercial roads. The Babylonians were invited to move their residences. By then the city had entered in frank decay, being left by the majority of its inhabitants shortly after.
