The fall of Sargon's Empire allowed a tribe called the Amorites to take over and establish their capital in the city-state of Babylon. Hammurabi becomes the sixth king of Babylon where he becomes an influential and powerful ruler. With his leadership, his territory and kingdom expands. His Babylonian Empire spreads throughout Mesopotamia and to other lands in the Fertile Crescent.

Hammurabi focused on improving Babylonia. He ordered the creation of city streets  (straight, smooth), the erecting of strong city walls, construction of great temples, and the building of efficient irrigation canals. He created alliances (partnerships) throughout Mesopotamia. He became known as "King of Sumer and Akkad".

Hammurabi's code of laws was carved into an eight foot stone named STELA so everybody could see it. Since he ruled over many lands with different peoples, he decided to combine the best laws and create his code of laws to help bring justice to everyday life.

The code’s 282 laws protected everyone and dictated

specific penalties for specific crimes. Punishments were often as brutal as the crime. For example, if you took someone's eye in a fight, your punishment was that your eye would be taken (this is where the term "an eye for an eye" come from). Hammurabi was a skillful leader and he knew that the only way to have order is to regulate bad behavior and business with clearly written laws for everyone to see.