Mari was a city-state located near the west bank of the Euphrates River in Northern Mesopotamia (now eastern Syria) during the Early Bronze Age and the Middle Bronze Age. One of the earliest known planned cities, Mari is believed to have been founded as a trade hub, and copper and bronze-smelting centre, between Babylonia in Southern Mesopotamia and the resource-rich Taurus Mountains of modern Turkey. For 1,200 years, Mari served as a major centre of Northern Mesopotamia until it was destroyed by Hammurabi of Babylon between 1760 BCE and 1757 BCE and gradually eroded away from memory and quite literally - today only one-third of the city survives with the rest washed away by the Euphrates.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 3000 BCE - c. 2300 BCEThe Semitic Kish culture is dominant in the area of modern-day Syria. This culure is exemplified by Ebla and the Cities I and II of Mari.
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c. 3000 BCE - c. 2900 BCEMari, the earliest known planned city, is built near the eastern bank of the Euphrates.
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c. 2950 BCE - c. 2650 BCEThe first of the city phases of the Syro-Mesopotamian city of Mari. This period is called "City I" in the archaeological literature.
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c. 2550 BCE - c. 2220 BCEThe second of three city phases of the Syro-Mesopotamian city of Mari. This period is called 'City II' in the archaeological literature.
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c. 2350 BCEEbla is destroyed in the rivalry between Mari and Ebla.
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c. 2220 BCECity II at Mari is destroyed by Naram-Sin.
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c. 2220 BCE - c. 1761 BCEThe third and final city phase of the Syro-Mesopotamian city of Mari. This period is called 'City III' in the archaeological literature.
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c. 2220 BCE - c. 2150 BCEThe Akkadian Empire dominates Mari with military governors called Shakkanakku serving as rulers.
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c. 2150 BCEThe Akkadian Empire falls, Mari gains independence.
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c. 1830 BCE - c. 1760 BCEThe Amorite period of Mari.
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c. 1830 BCEThe Shakkanakku Dynasty of Mari falls and is replaced by the Amorite Lim Dynasty under Yaggid-Lim.
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c. 1811 BCENaram-Sin dies, Mari becomes independent again.
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c. 1776 BCE - c. 1761 BCEThe reign of Zimri-Lim of Mari, the last king of Mari. Zimri-Lim, an Amorite, reclaims the throne of Mari for the Lim Dynasty in 1776 BCE.
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c. 1761 BCEZimri-Lim, the last ruler of Mari dies for unknown reasons. His former ally, Hammurabi of Babylon, captures the city of Mari.
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c. 1760 BCE - c. 1757 BCEHammurabi of Babylon destroys the city of Mari. The people of Mari are spared according to Hammurabi.