Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

so HISTORY OF PERSIA chap.
modern times, I now turn to Babylonia. As already
explained, owing to the much greater northern extension
of the Persian Gulf and the more easterly course of the
Euphrates, Babylonia was formerly of smaller extent than
the study of a modern map would lead the student to
suppose. On the north, the natural division was one
between the dead level plain and the
slightly undulating
country, which would be represented by a line drawn from
near Samarra on the Tigris to Hit on the Euphrates.
On the east the Tigris was the boundary when Elam
was strong ; but when Elam was weak Babylonia occu-
pied fertile districts to the east of the river. On the west,
the Euphrates was a natural boundary and defence ; and
on the south lay the Persian Gulf. Canon Rawlinson
calculates the area as being rather less than that of the
Netherlands.^
Meaning of Sumer and Akkad.—Before proceeding
farther it would seem desirable to explain the various
terms used in connexion with this ancient country. At
the very earliest period it was referred to simply as " The
Land." At a later but still early period the name Sumer
was applied to the district at the head of the Persian Gulf,
and Akkad was the neighbouring district to the north-
east. There was no marked geographical or other division
between the two countries :
^ but Erech, Ur, Larsa, and
Umma formed part of Sumer, which is referred to as the
land of Shinar in the book of Genesis,^ the verse running,
" And the beginning of his {sc. Nimrod's) kingdom was
Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of
Shinar." Akkad or Agade, on the other hand, had Sippar,
within its boundaries.
Kish, Babylon, and Borsippa
Chaldea and — Babylonia. The term Chaldea ws
formerly used in referring to this ancient land ; but, a?
Rawlinson points out, the word is not found at all befor(
the ninth century B.C., and then in Assyrian inscriptions.
and its
Consequently, owmg to the fame of Babylon
comparative antiquity, it appears
to be most convenient t<
^
Ancient Monarchies^ i. 6.
2 Sumer and Akkad, p. 13.
3 Genesis x. 10. Calneh may perhaps be Nippur. See also the quotation at tl
head of this chapter.