Rise and Fall of Sumer and the Akkadian empire
Summary
TLDRThe script delves into the origins of the Sumerian civilization and the Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia, highlighting the significance of rivers in early civilizations. It discusses the development of agriculture, trade, and the rise of the first cities, leading to the creation of governments and organized religions. The Sumerians are credited with early advancements in writing, the wheel, and various technologies. The narrative also covers the rise and fall of powerful rulers like Lugalzagesi and Sargon of Akkad, who established the first empire in history. The script concludes with the resurgence of the Sumerians and the eventual rise of Babylon.
Takeaways
- đïž The Sumerian civilization and the Akkadian Empire both originated in Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
- đ Rivers played a crucial role in the development of early civilizations by providing water, hunting grounds, and fertile soil for agriculture.
- đ Sumerians are known for inventing cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing, used for record-keeping, laws, and literature.
- đ€ïž Unlike other rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates were difficult to navigate and required extensive irrigation systems, often manned by slaves.
- đïž The development of agriculture led to the formation of the first cities, where food surpluses and trade emerged, leading to the establishment of governments and social hierarchies.
- đ The Epic of Gilgamesh is an important Sumerian literary work, possibly based on the historical King Gilgamesh of Uruk.
- đ Sumerians contributed significantly to human progress with innovations such as the wheel, astronomy, the kiln, the plow, irrigation, bronze working, and mathematics.
- đ° Sumerian city-states were culturally similar but politically independent, often engaging in conflicts for power and control.
- đïž Ziggurats were central religious and learning institutions in Sumerian cities, reflecting the importance of religion and priesthood.
- đ€Ž Lugalzagesi of Umma was a significant ruler who conquered several city-states and attempted to unify Sumer, but his reign was short-lived.
- đ Sargon of Akkad, of non-Sumerian descent, is noted as the world's first emperor, who established a centralized government and expanded the empire through conquest and diplomacy.
Q & A
What is the significance of the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the context of ancient civilizations?
-The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as Mesopotamia, is significant as it was the cradle of two of the earliest civilizations, the Sumerian civilization and the Akkadian Empire. Its fertile soil, deposited by the rivers' floods, was ideal for agriculture, which led to the development of complex societies.
Why were early civilizations often located near rivers or coastal areas?
-Early civilizations were often located near rivers or coastal areas because these water sources provided fresh water, places to hunt and fish, and fertile soil from seasonal floods, which were essential for agriculture and sustaining large populations.
What challenges did the rivers Tigris and Euphrates present for the early inhabitants of Mesopotamia?
-The Tigris and Euphrates presented challenges such as difficulty in navigation and unpredictable flooding. This necessitated the constant improvement of irrigation systems and the construction of dams and canals to manage water for agriculture.
How did the development of agriculture in Mesopotamia lead to the rise of cities and complex societies?
-The development of agriculture allowed for food surpluses, which meant people could settle in one place rather than constantly hunt and gather. This led to the formation of cities, the creation of trade, and the emergence of governments, organized religions, and rulers who could provide protection and order.
What is cuneiform, and why is it significant in the history of writing?
-Cuneiform is one of the earliest systems of writing, developed by the Sumerian civilization. It was inscribed on clay tablets for record-keeping, laws, and literature, making it a significant milestone in the history of written communication.
What is the 'Epic of Gilgamesh', and why is it considered important in literature?
-The 'Epic of Gilgamesh' is an ancient Sumerian poem that is considered one of the earliest surviving great works of literature. It is loosely based on the historical King Gilgamesh of Uruk and provides insights into the culture, beliefs, and values of the Sumerian civilization.
How were the city-states of Sumer different from each other, and what role did religion play in their governance?
-The city-states of Sumer were similar in culture but were independent of each other, each having its own protective deity. Religion played a significant role in governance, as priests were important figures who could mediate with the gods and influence the people.
What was the significance of the ziggurats in Sumerian cities, and what role did they play in society?
-Ziggurats were temple complexes at the center of Sumerian cities, serving as the center of both religious activities and learning. They symbolized the connection between the earthly and divine realms and were important architectural achievements of the time.
Who was Lugal-zaggisi, and what was his impact on the city-states of Sumer?
-Lugal-zaggisi was a ruler who came to power in the city of Umma and assumed the title 'King of the Land'. He is known for his conquests and diplomacy that brought many city-states under his rule, creating a period of relative unity in Sumer.
How did Sargon of Akkad rise to power, and what was his contribution to the history of Mesopotamia?
-Sargon of Akkad, a self-made man of non-Sumerian descent, rose to power by usurping Lugal-zaggisi and becoming the first emperor to hold the title. He unified Mesopotamia into one empire, established a centralized government, and promoted cultural integration, paving the way for future empires.
What were the factors that led to the decline and fall of the Akkadian Empire?
-The Akkadian Empire declined due to internal strife, forced integration that led to revolts, and external invasions by nomadic groups such as the Gutians. The empire eventually collapsed, and the region returned to a state of independent city-states.
What was the role of Ur-Nammu in the resurgence of Sumerian power after the fall of the Akkadian Empire?
-Ur-Nammu played a crucial role in the resurgence of Sumerian power by overthrowing the Gutians and restoring order. He established the Third Dynasty of Ur, which expanded beyond traditional Sumerian lands and brought about a period of stability and prosperity.
Outlines
đș The Dawn of Civilizations in Mesopotamia
The script discusses the origins of the Sumerian civilization and the Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia, a region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It highlights the significance of rivers in the development of early civilizations, providing essential resources for agriculture, which in turn led to the establishment of cities, trade, and governments. The Sumerians are credited with the invention of cuneiform writing, the wheel, and various technological and mathematical advancements. The text also describes the city-states' political structure, the importance of ziggurats, and the rise of powerful rulers like Lugalzagesi, who unified Sumer through conquest and diplomacy.
đ The Rise and Fall of Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia
This paragraph delves into the story of Sargon of Akkad, a self-made ruler who is believed to have united Mesopotamia into a single empire, despite his mysterious origins. Sargon's military campaigns extended the empire's reach and his centralized government fostered cultural integration. The narrative also covers the continuation of his dynasty and the challenges faced by his successors, including revolts and the eventual collapse of the empire due to internal strife and external invasions. The paragraph concludes with the resurgence of Sumerian influence under Utu-hengal and the rise of Babylon from the remnants of the fallen empire.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄSumerian civilization
đĄAkkadian Empire
đĄMesopotamia
đĄCuneiform
đĄCity-states
đĄZiggurat
đĄIrrigation
đĄSargon of Akkad
đĄGutians
đĄBabylon
Highlights
Sumerian and Akkadian civilizations originated in Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Rivers were crucial for early civilizations, providing water, hunting grounds, and fertile soil from flooding.
Mesopotamian rivers were difficult to navigate and required extensive irrigation systems, often manned by slaves.
Agriculture allowed for the development of cities, trade, and the rise of governments and organized religions.
Sumerians invented cuneiform, the earliest form of writing on clay tablets for record-keeping, laws, and literature.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered the earliest surviving great work of literature.
Sumerians pioneered the wheel, astronomy, the kiln, the plow, irrigation, bronze working, and mathematics.
Sumerian city-states were independent with their own protective deities and often fought for control and power.
Houses in Mesopotamia were typically made of mud brick due to the lack of timber.
Sumerian city-states had populations ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 people and were known through archaeological evidence.
Ziggurats were central religious and learning institutions in Sumerian cities.
Priests were influential figures who could appease the gods in the Sumerian world.
Lugalzagesi of Umma conquered neighboring city-states and assumed the title of King of Uruk.
Sargon of Akkad, a self-made man, united Mesopotamia into one empire and was the first to hold the title of emperor.
Sargon of Akkad's background is mysterious, with stories suggesting he was an illegitimate child of a priestess.
Sargon established a centralized government and official documents in both Akkadian and Sumerian.
Sargon's daughter was made High Priestess to merge the cultures of Akkad and Sumer.
Sargon's empire stretched from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, and he continued trade with distant lands.
After Sargon's death, his sons faced rebellions but maintained control until they were assassinated.
Narmer-sin, Sargon's grandson, subdued rebellions and began to present himself as a god.
The Akkadian Empire collapsed due to internal strife and invasions by the Gutians.
Ur-Nammu of Ur restored Sumerian independence and expanded the empire beyond traditional lands.
The Sumerian Empire was short-lived due to invasions by the Amorites and Elamites, leading to its collapse into city-states.
Babylon, initially a minor city-state, later grew to become a major power in the region.
Transcripts
the Sumerian civilization known as Sumer
and the Akkadian Empire both started in
the land of Mesopotamia the land between
two rivers the Tigris and Euphrates it's
hard to say which was the first true
civilization in history because many
flourished around the world at roughly
the same time and they were almost
always next to rivers or coastal areas
from the Egyptians along the Nile to
China next to the Yellow River the Indus
River Valley Civilization no to Chico in
coastal Peru and a little later the
Olmecs next of the kawatte so koalas
these rivers provided fresh water places
to hunt and fish and they often flooded
the lands around them depositing rich
fertile soil which was great for growing
crops and other foods
unlike the Nile or Indus Valley the
Tigris and Euphrates were difficult to
navigate and flooded unpredictably this
meant a lot of slaves were needed to
constantly improve irrigation systems
within Mesopotamia they needed to create
dams to hold back the floods they put
canals to channel river waters to the
fields and built pools to store the
water with agriculture the constant need
to hunt and gather food was relinquished
and trade arose this eventually
culminated into the first cities people
came closer together food surpluses were
created and gave rise to governments
organized religion and rulers who could
supply protection with the military the
Sumerian civilization gave us the
earliest archaeological records of
writing in the form of cuneiform their
writing was illustrated on clay tablets
for record-keeping laws and literature
one of these was the epic of gilgamesh a
tayo loosely based on the historical
King Gilgamesh who ruled the Sumerian
city of Uruk the epic poem is regarded
as the earliest surviving great work of
literature they also pioneered the wheel
astronomy the kiln the plow irrigation
bronze working and mathematics in Sumer
cities were similar in culture but were
not United these city-states were all
independent and they each had their own
protective deity often or not a
city-state could become a vassal of
another because they often fought for
control and power
in these early cities houses were
clustered together the streets were
narrow and it was really crowded there
wasn't a plentiful source of timber in
Mesopotamia
so these houses were typically made out
of mud brick and baked in the Sun to
harden it is estimated that around 5,000
to 50,000 people lived within a typical
Sumer city-state roughly around 30
city-states are known to us today
through archaeological evidence the most
active cities during Sumer were earth
Herick Lagash nipper Kish umma Lhasa ear
ado and listen each city had a temple
known as a ziggurats and these were the
center of both religion and learning
Mesopotamia gods tended to be pretty
mean and violence
much like the Tigris and Euphrates
priests were seen as people who could
please these gods and became important
figures within the Sumerian world
however the power of Kings would soon
replace them in the 24th century BC a
man by the name of lugol's Agassi came
to the throne of uma and assumed the
title of NC of Yuma a Sumerian word
meaning Lord at the lowland he ascended
to a period of endless warfare between
his neighboring city-states through
determination and skill he conquered his
great rival city of lagash killing its
king Eric Agena and forcing his rule
upon the city each soldier had each
other's backs
so the opponents couldn't get close
enough to kill equipped with the long
spear a body length shield and physical
fitness soldiers could quickly turn near
end to victory
Lugo's Agassi gradually brought together
the surrounding city-states with in
sumer through conquest and diplomacy
eventually making the city of Uruk his
capital he even moved his army to the
important city of Kish overthrowing its
king as a barber and brought all of
Sumer under one rule however his reign
was short lived as a new foreign
subjugator came to take his place and
this foreigner was the Akkadian Sargon
of Akkad through long drawn-out battles
Sargon would usurp lugol's Agassi and be
the first to hold the title emperor
in the later Babylonian versions of
Sargon's descriptions sargon of akkad is
said to have captured lugol's oxy after
destroying the walls of eric he then had
a chain placed around his neck and was
led through the holy city of nippers and
Lil's temple as a sign of his shame
by all accounts Sargon of Akkad was a
self-made man who came to unite all of
Mesopotamia into one unified Empire
Sargon was a person of non Sumerian
descent and is said to have been cut
bearer to the previous king of Kish or
zubaba his heritage stemmed from somatic
nomads from the Arabian Peninsula though
it is important to note the term somatic
refers to a language group the birth of
Sargon is shrouded in mystery as there
are no valid sources that can ascertain
- the reality of his background however
there are many stories and accounts
after his death in one Moses like legend
he is described as an illegitimate son
of a priestess who placed him in a
basket and launched him down the
Euphrates a Sumerian gardener came
across the basket and raised him as his
own upon Sargon's victory over lugol's
Agassi and his conquest of Iraq he is
said to have launched campaigns into
Elam and Mari stretching his Empire from
the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf
the nipper inscriptions also talk of his
army of 5400 men who were entertained
and fed bread daily after all his
conquests Sargon went about establishing
a centralized government forging
official documents in both his native
language Akkadian as well as Sumerian
while he did allow humilated cities to
retain their original rulers it was
Acadians who were placed in positions of
high status and importance his daughter
was made the High Priestess of the
goddess in Anna and the moon-god Nana
she was ordered to mix the gods of
Acadians and Sumerians as a way to merge
the two cultures into a whole United
people Sargon is said to have continued
trade with the lands of Dillman mcgann
and malua and he founded a dynasty that
would last many years after
death although many of the city-states
sargon at Concord were unhappy with
their forced integration and quickly
revolted after his death his sons fought
off these rebellions throughout their
reign and both met their deaths with
assassination but the next king Narmer
sin lived up to his grandfather's
reputation as he did manage to subdue
these rebellions he spent much of his
life on military campaigns and began to
detail himself as a god this may
possibly have bought about the Empire's
destruction because he died and his son
failed to keep faith in the throne the
Empire began to collapse as nomadic
people known as the GU Tian's raided and
invaded from the Zargon mountains
sacking the capital city of a card
burning it to the ground so much so that
has never been found
tar god's contribution to the ancient
world made him one of the most
fascinating figures in history the
world's first leader of an empire paving
the way for all those after eventually
the GU Tian's ruled as warlords for
about a century before the rise once
again of the Sumerians and the founding
of the great name Sumerian Empire it was
you too Hangul of Erik who rose up
against the GU Tian's and gained
Sumerians their independence once again
but it was the next king or namu who
restored order completely and conquered
outside the traditional Sumerian lands
however the Empire was short-lived as a
shadow of invasions rapidly spread these
invasions came from the amorite sand the
Elamites causing their empire to
collapse into city-states once again out
of these city-states one largely
irrelevant City would later grow and
expand its influence
this city was Babylon
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