The Eighteenth Century BCE

The eighteenth century BCE is a span of one hundred years that began in 1800 BCE and ended in 1701 BCE. It falls within the later Bronze Age of the Near East, Egypt, and parts of Asia. The largest body of written records from this period comes from Mesopotamia, where writing in the script known as cuneiform was inscribed on clay tablets.

Scholars dispute the precise chronology of events in this century. Several chronological systems exist—called the 'middle', 'short', and 'long chronology'—that can differ by decades. Therefore any date cited here depends on which chronological system is chosen.

Mesopotamia and Babylon

This century includes the reign of Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. Starting from a small city-state, he brought much of southern and central Mesopotamia under his control. His name is associated with a list of laws inscribed on a stone stele, containing regulations concerning trade, marriage, debt, and labor. These laws reveal a system of punishment based on the social status of the person involved.

Other competing states included Mari on the Euphrates River, Eshnunna, Larsa, and Assyria under Shamshi-Adad I. The archives of cuneiform tablets from Mari provide information on diplomacy, military affairs, and administration of the period.

Egypt

Egypt was in the final stages of the Middle Kingdom. The central authority of the pharaohs gradually weakened, giving way to a period known as the Second Intermediate Period. This century saw an influx of peoples from the Near East who settled in the northern Nile Delta, whom the Egyptians later called by the term 'Hyksos'.

Other Regions

Anatolia saw the rise of Hittite power. The island of Crete had the Minoan civilization with its grand palace centers. The Indus Valley was undergoing decline, with people abandoning the major cities. China's cultural history is traditionally dated to the Xia Dynasty and the beginning of the Shang, though written evidence from this period is sparse.