The Babylonians lived in Mesopotamia, the land between the two rivers, Euphrates and Tigris in Iraq. They followed the advanced cultures of the Sumerians and the Assyrians. In 1700 BC, King Hammurabi passed strict laws here and ruled his kingdom with a strong hand. Around 1100 years later, King Nebuchadnezzar II made the capital city of Babylon as one of the most powerful trade centres. It lay on both sides of Euphrates, had buildings with up to four storeys, and was surrounded by an 18 km long thick wall. The Tower of Babel, which he built, is mentioned even in the Old Testament of the Bible.