What were the hazards for the Babylonians on their trading route?

Answer 1

Though farming was the main industry of the ancient Babylonian, trade was also an integral part of their life and of Babylonian civilization. For trade to flourish the trade routes had to be safe and protected from bandits. If the trade routes were not secure and merchants were left to the mercy of bandits, trade would be discontinued and a general decline in the prosperity of the area would happen.

-

Babylon became important in the Middle Eastern trade network. Not only were traders taking exports out and bringing imports in, but also merchants were carrying goods from places such as India, Europe, Persia, Anatolia and Egypt up the rivers west and down the rivers east again.

-

Babylon was a city where trade routes crossed. Hammurabi operated a protection racket, offering towns he captured the security of his superior military might in exchange for their obedience and tribute (payment of taxes). He believed that where he had conquered he had put an end to war, and he wanted to protect his subjects from the terror of nomads.

-

He did the same with the trade routes so vandals did not end the trade which is an important part of the empire.