Early Dynastic Mesopotamia | Ancient Documentary | The Sumerian and Akkadian Empires.

Summary

This video explores the Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia (2900-2334 BCE), a pivotal era in history that saw the development of cities, writing, and governance. It covers the period's division into three sub-periods, significant cultural advancements, and the rise of city-states like Uruk, Kish, and Lagash. The narrative delves into the social structure, technological innovations, and the creation of the first empire by figures like Sargon of Akkad. The video highlights the influence of these developments on subsequent civilizations, emphasizing Mesopotamia’s lasting impact on political and cultural systems.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ The Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia (2900-2334 BCE) marked significant cultural advances such as the rise of cities, development of writing, and establishment of governments.
• 📝 The development of writing in Mesopotamia during this period was a pivotal achievement, with early cuneiform script emerging for record-keeping and communication.
• 🌍 Mesopotamia was not a unified political entity like Egypt but consisted of independent city-states, each with its own government and cultural advancements.
• ⏳ The period is divided into three sub-periods: Dynastic I (2900-2800 BCE), Dynastic II (2800-2600 BCE), and Dynastic III (2600-2334 BCE), although these divisions are considered arbitrary by some scholars.
• 🌊 A significant flood around 2900 BCE, which is linked to the Great Flood myth in various ancient texts, disrupted Mesopotamian society.
• 🏛️ Early cities were built during the Uruk period (4100-2900 BCE), with advances in architecture, cylinder seals, and bureaucracy forming the foundation for later developments in the Early Dynastic Period.
• 👑 The Sumerian King List provides a legendary account of kingship, including improbable reign lengths and mythical figures, while also chronicling historical rulers like Etana of Kish.
• 👷 The economy and social structure were based on 'households,' which functioned as units of production and consumption, often associated with temples, kings, or wealthy elites.
• 🛠️ Technological advances in metallurgy, ceramics, and textiles during Dynastic II supported economic growth, but wealth remained concentrated in the upper classes.
• ⚔️ Early Dynastic III saw the rise of prominent kings like Gilgamesh of Uruk and military conflicts such as the war led by Enmebaragesi of Kish against the Elamites.

Q & A

What is the Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia?

The Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia refers to the era between 2900-2334 BCE, marked by significant cultural advancements such as the rise of cities, the development of writing, and the establishment of governments.

How does Mesopotamia’s Early Dynastic Period differ from Egypt's Early Dynastic Period?

Unlike Egypt, which became a cohesive political and ethnic entity, Mesopotamia's city-states remained largely independent, with no centralized rule under a single king for much of its history.

What major advancements occurred during the Uruk period (4100-2900 BCE)?

The Uruk period saw the development of the first cities, monumental architecture, cylinder seals, writing systems, and the establishment of governmental bureaucracies.

What is the significance of the Sumerian King List?

The Sumerian King List is a document composed around 2100 BCE that records the reigns of kings, linking the present kingship with the mythical past and providing a sense of continuity in Mesopotamian history.

What role did the concept of 'households' play in Mesopotamian society?

Households were social units that served as both production and consumption entities, often aligned with temples, kings, or wealthy individuals. They played a central role in organizing labor and maintaining the economy.

How did early Mesopotamian cities sustain themselves and grow in power?

Cities like Uruk and Kish developed through advancements in technology, trade, and the division of labor. They attracted people from rural areas due to their protective walls and opportunities for work.

What challenges did laborers face during the Early Dynastic Period?

Laborers, especially women, endured harsh working conditions, including strenuous tasks like milling grain and weaving cloth. They were expected to meet high production quotas under the supervision of the upper class.

Who was Kubaba, and why is she significant?

Kubaba was a female ruler who founded the Third Dynasty of Kish. She was a tavern keeper who rose to power, and after her death, she was deified and worshipped in various cultures as a goddess.

What was Sargon of Akkad's contribution to Mesopotamian history?

Sargon of Akkad founded the Akkadian Empire, the first multinational political entity in history. He learned from the mistakes of earlier rulers, placing trusted officials in power and maintaining cohesive control over his empire.

How did irrigation influence the development of city-states in Mesopotamia?

Irrigation was essential for Mesopotamian survival, requiring communal effort and cooperation among city-states. This necessity led to the growth of governmental institutions and cooperation, even amid rivalries.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Introduction to the Early Dynastic Period in Mesopotamia

This paragraph introduces the Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia, spanning from 2900-2334 BCE, and highlights its significant cultural advances, such as urbanization, the development of writing, and the establishment of governance. It compares Mesopotamia's development to that of Egypt, noting that Mesopotamia was less cohesive politically and culturally. The period is divided into three sub-periods (Dynastic 1, 2, and 3), and its end is marked by the Akkadian conquest under Sargon of Akkad.

05:01

📜 Lexical Lists, Flood Stories, and the Rise of Cities

This section discusses key cultural advancements during the Early Dynastic Period, such as writing (especially in lexical lists), urban development, and government bureaucracy. It also describes a great flood, believed to have occurred around 2900 BCE, which disrupted Mesopotamian society. This flood is seen as the origin of later flood myths, such as the biblical story of Noah. Additionally, it details the Sumerian King List, which traces Mesopotamian kingship back to the first city, Eridu.

10:03

🏠 The Household as a Social and Economic Unit

This paragraph describes the core social structure of early Mesopotamian cities, focusing on the household as a primary unit of production and consumption. Households were large social organizations centered around a temple, king, or wealthy individual. They played a vital role in the organization of labor, with workers being paid in rations. This system allowed cities to grow, but laborers, especially women, faced harsh working conditions and had limited rights compared to higher social classes.

15:08

🔨 Technological and Cultural Advances in Dynastic II

The Dynastic II period witnessed further development of technological and cultural advancements, particularly in pottery, metallurgy, and the mass production of goods like jewelry and cloth. Despite these advances, the wealth generated did not benefit the lower class laborers, who continued to work under harsh conditions. Cities grew wealthier and attracted more people from rural areas, increasing the burden on farmers to supply the cities, leading to social tensions and violent repression.

20:09

⚔️ The First War and the Rise of Irrigation Cooperation

This paragraph covers the first recorded war in history, led by Enmebaragesi of Kish against the Elamites. It also discusses how the need for irrigation systems in Mesopotamia fostered a spirit of cooperation among the city-states. Although individual cities pursued their own interests, they had to work together for survival, especially for managing complex irrigation systems that sustained their agriculture. This cooperation eventually contributed to the rise of governmental institutions.

👑 Dominance of Kish and Uruk in Dynastic III

The Early Dynastic III period saw the dominance of Kish and Uruk as political powers. This era includes the historically attested reigns of famous kings such as Gilgamesh of Uruk. Despite discrepancies in the Sumerian King List, this period is characterized by significant political activity, with cities like Lagash also rising to prominence. The first known empire in Mesopotamia was established by Eannatum of Lagash, who conquered all of Sumer, though his successors could not maintain it.

👩‍⚖️ The Mysterious Reign of Queen Kubaba

This section highlights the unique figure of Kubaba, the only woman listed in the Sumerian King List. Originally a tavern keeper, Kubaba rose to power and founded the Third Dynasty of Kish. Little is known about her background, but she became a deified figure after her death, influencing later goddess cults, including the famous Phrygian Mother Goddess, Cybele. Her reign is one of the most intriguing aspects of Mesopotamian history during this period.

🛡️ Sargon of Akkad and the Fall of the Early Dynastic Period

The final paragraph details the rise of Sargon of Akkad, who, according to legend, was born in secret and floated down a river in a basket, later rising to power as cupbearer to Ur-Zababa of Kish. Sargon eventually defeated Lugal-Zagezi of Umma and established the Akkadian Empire, marking the end of the Early Dynastic Period. His rule, characterized by strong governance and the strategic placement of trusted officials, laid the groundwork for later empires such as the Assyrian and Roman.

Keywords

💡Early Dynastic Period

The Early Dynastic Period (2900-2334 BCE) refers to the era in Mesopotamian history when cities, writing, and governments were established. It followed the Uruk period and preceded the Akkadian Empire. This period is essential to the video’s theme as it represents the foundation of civilization in Mesopotamia, marked by cultural and political developments.

💡Uruk Period

The Uruk Period (4100-2900 BCE) was the earlier era in Mesopotamian history, known for the rise of the first cities, monumental architecture, and the development of writing. It laid the groundwork for the Early Dynastic Period and is mentioned as a key phase in the evolution of Sumerian culture, with cities like Uruk leading urbanization efforts.

💡City-States

City-states in Mesopotamia, like Uruk and Kish, were independent cities that had their own governments, economies, and religious structures. Unlike Egypt, which developed into a unified kingdom, Mesopotamia's city-states operated autonomously, contributing to the diverse political landscape of the Early Dynastic Period. This term is crucial for understanding the decentralized nature of Mesopotamian governance.

💡Sumerian King List

The Sumerian King List is an ancient document that records the reigns of kings from the earliest cities in Mesopotamia, often giving them impossibly long reigns. It connects the present kingship to divine origins, starting with the city of Eridu. The list is mentioned as a significant historical source that provides insight into early Sumerian rulers and the concept of kingship.

💡Household Model

The household model was the social and economic structure of Mesopotamian cities during the Early Dynastic Period, where households functioned as units of production and consumption. These were led by heads of households, usually a king, priest, or wealthy individual. This structure allowed cities to function efficiently and played a role in shaping early urban economies.

💡Cuneiform

Cuneiform is the writing system developed in Mesopotamia, starting around 3500 BCE. It is one of the earliest forms of written language and was used for recording laws, economic transactions, and literature. The video mentions cuneiform as a significant advancement during the Uruk and Early Dynastic periods, highlighting its role in documenting Mesopotamian civilization.

💡Sargon of Akkad

Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279 BCE) was a ruler who conquered Mesopotamia and established the Akkadian Empire. His rise to power marked the end of the Early Dynastic Period. Sargon is mentioned in the video as an important figure whose conquests unified the region, but who built on the foundations laid by earlier Sumerian kings.

💡Great Flood

The Great Flood, referenced in Mesopotamian literature like the Atrahasis and Eridu Genesis, is a mythological event believed to have originated from a historical flood around 2900 BCE. The video relates this flood to stories like the biblical tale of Noah, illustrating the significance of natural disasters in shaping Mesopotamian myth and culture.

💡Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh was a legendary king of Uruk and a central figure in Mesopotamian mythology, best known from the 'Epic of Gilgamesh.' He represents the ideal king in Sumerian culture, and his reign is placed within the Early Dynastic III period. His story highlights themes of heroism, kingship, and the relationship between mortals and gods.

💡Kish

Kish was one of the most powerful city-states during the Early Dynastic Period, often vying for dominance in the region. It is mentioned in the video as a key player in both political and military developments, with its rulers leading campaigns and establishing alliances. Kish's prominence reflects the competitive nature of city-state politics in Mesopotamia.

Highlights

The Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia (2900-2334 BCE) saw significant cultural advances, including the rise of cities, development of writing, and establishment of governments.

The term 'Early Dynastic Period' was coined by orientalist Henry Frankfort to mirror a similar period in Egypt.

Mesopotamia, unlike Egypt, was not a cohesive political or ethnic entity even under later empires like that of Sargon of Akkad.

City-states of Sumer were independently governed, not united under a single king as in Egypt.

The Early Dynastic Period is divided into three sub-periods: Dynastic I (2900-2800 BCE), Dynastic II (2800-2600 BCE), and Dynastic III (2600-2334 BCE).

The Ubaid period (5000-4100 BCE) preceded the Early Dynastic Period, where small rural communities transitioned into the first cities.

Monumental architecture, writing, and cylinder seals were developed in the Uruk period, which set the foundation for advances in the Early Dynastic Period.

The great flood around 2900 BCE near Shurupak is considered the origin of the Mesopotamian flood myths that inspired the biblical story of Noah's Ark.

The Sumerian King List, composed circa 2100 BCE, claims Eridu was the first city established by the gods, with Alulim reigning for 28,800 years.

Households in Mesopotamia were key social units, functioning as single units of production and consumption under the rule of a king, queen, or temple.

By Dynastic II, cities expanded, and technology improved, with pottery and metallurgy produced on a large scale, though wealth rarely trickled down to lower-class laborers.

In 2700 BCE, Enmebaragesi of Kish led Sumerian cities to victory over Elam, marking the first recorded war in history.

The rise of the Sumerian state was driven by the need for irrigation, which required communal cooperation and governance.

The Early Dynastic III period saw Kish and Uruk as dominant political powers, while city-states often pursued their own self-interests.

Sargon of Akkad’s reign brought the Early Dynastic Period to an end as he established the Akkadian Empire, the first multinational political entity in history.

The Akkadian Empire built on the foundations of Sumerian governance, setting a model that influenced later empires like the Assyrian and Roman Empires.

Transcripts

this

recording is brought to you by ancient

history encyclopedia

and the youtube channel the study of

antiquity

and the middle ages

the early dynastic period of mesopotamia

written by joshua j mark narrated by

d w drafen

the early dynastic period of mesopotamia

is the modern day archaeological term

for the era in mesopotamian history

2900-2334 bce

during which some of the most

significant cultural advances were made

including the rise of the cities the

development of writing

and the establishment of governments

this era was preceded by the uruk period

4100 to 2900 bce

when the first cities were established

in the region of sumer

southern mesopotamia and succeeded by

the akkadian period

2334-2218 bce

when mesopotamia was conquered by sargon

of akkad

reigned 2334-2279 bce

and ruled by him and his successors as

the

akkadian empire

the term was coined by orientalist henry

frankfort

lived 1897 to 1954 ce

to mirror the early dynastic period in

egypt

a similar period of development it

should be noted however

that the advances of mesopotamia's early

dynastic period

differed from egypt's in significant

ways

notably in that mesopotamia even under

the rule of sargon or later empires

was never the cohesive ethnic or

political entity

egypt was and the kinds of cultural

developments cited for this era

were not as uniform as they were in

egypt

the city-states of sumer were for much

of their history

each independently governed not united

under the reign of a single king

as in the case of egyptian government

and so

a city like uruk or or might have

developed

some important cultural advance which

was not shared

at least not readily with others

the era is divided by archaeologists

into three

sub-periods dynastic one

2900 to 2800 bce

dynastic 2 2800 to 2600 bce

dynastic 3 2600 to 2334

bce these are considered arbitrary

divisions by some scholars and

historians

as there is no clear demarcation line

separating one from the next

even so there is enough of a subtle

difference that division

is considered justified

uruk period the earliest era in

mesopotamian history is the ubaid period

circa 5000 to 4100 bce

about which little is known the origins

of the ubaid people

so called because of the modern day site

tel al ubaid

where the major finds of the culture

were located

are obscure and as they left no written

records

the little information archaeologists

have on them

comes from their pottery and artwork

they had already shifted from a

hunter-gatherer

society to an agrarian culture and

established small rural communities

before the rise of sumer these villages

developed during the uruk period

named for the central archaeological

site which defines the era

the city of uruk and in time became the

first cities

major advances of this period besides

urbanization

were monumental architecture circa 3500

to 3300 bce

the development of cylinder seals circa

3600 bce

although the basic paradigm of the seal

was already known writing

circa 3600 to 3500 bce

written language circa 3200 bce

which is exemplified in lexical lists

essentially scribal dictionaries of

cuneiform

signs and their meanings in sumerian

acadian and hittite and governmental

bureaucracy

all of these advances became more highly

developed

during the early dynastic period

early dynastic one

between the uruk period and the early

dynastic period

the rivers around the region of the city

of shurupak

overflowed causing severe flooding

from the southern plains up through the

north

this event which severely disrupted the

society

is considered the origin of the great

flood story

as reimagined as the god's wrath in the

eredu genesis

and the atrajasis the mesopotamian works

now recognized

as the inspiration for the famous tale

of noah

and his ark from the bible the exact

date of the flood is contested

but most scholars said it at circa 2900

bce

the cities which existed before the

flood were

eredu

the cities established after the flood

were

adab aksak awan

the sumerian king list a document

composed circa 2100 bce

at lagash claims the first city

established by the gods

was eridu and the first king was aloo

lim

who reigned for 28 hundred years

the kings who follow aloo lim are mostly

all given equally improbable lengths of

rain

the first king on the list considered

historical

is eitana of kish best known from the

myth

of etana a work belonging to the genre

of mesopotamian naru literature

in which etana flies to heaven on the

back of an

eagle to win what he desires most

from the gods the sumerian king list

notes that the kingship passed from

eridu to other cities

and the list was composed to create an

unbroken line

between the present kingship and the

illustrious

past going all the way back to eridu

the dates of most of these kings are

doubtful and their length of reign is

impossible

but it is clear that the cities of

mesopotamia developed steadily

from the foundation of eridu circa 5400

bce

throughout early dynastic one

these cities as noted grew from small

villages

but the core of those villages as

evidenced by administrative records

was a social organization known as a

household

scholar mark vandemiro explains

households were social units larger than

nuclear families

whose members reside together an

important aspect of the household

is the fact that it acted as a single

unit of production

and consumption most goods needed for

its survival were produced in the

household itself

households may have originated in

economically autonomous kinship

groups and eventually coalesced into

institutions

centered around a god or the king

households were associated either with

the god of the city

represented by the temple the king the

queen

or someone of substantial wealth and

power

each household held its particular land

and assets

such as boats and tools in common

in the uruk period the priests

essentially ruled but kingship had been

established circa 3600 bce

and by the time of dynastic 1 this

position was firmly established

each household followed the same

hierarchy with the king at the top

then the queen who sometimes had her own

household

the priests of the city's god the

military

administration bureaucracy merchant and

artisan class

skilled workers and the unskilled

workers

laborers at the bottom laborers were

paid through rations distributed by the

administrator

of the king queen or temple and usually

consisted of barley

wool and oil people also

fished and cultivated private gardens to

supplement their income

mark fandom europe comments on the

rations provided

it is clear that these rations

constituted the support given to the

household's dependents

whether productive or not the amounts

were provided according to the sex and

status of the worker

a male worker regularly received double

the amount of grain

given to a female worker supervisors

received more than their subordinates

specialized craftsmen more than

unskilled laborers

and so on although sumerian women had

nearly equal rights

this paradigm did not extend to the

lowest classes who

had few rights overall the policy

and practices of the household would

remain a constant

as the early cities of dynastic one

developed

and became the powerful city-states of

dynastic ii

early dynastic two the dynastic two

period

saw the development of these earlier

advances as the individual cities

expanded technology was improved

and the household paradigm maintained a

cohesive structure

for the developing culture scholar

wolfram fonsoden

comments the culture was based on the

formation of a society based on a

division of labor

which freed large groups of the

population such as artisans

merchants and cultic and administrative

personnel

from the production of food as well as

on an

advanced technology for the production

of clay vessels

using the potter's wheel metallurgy and

the mass production of heavily used

objects the stability provided by the

household model

allowed for the cultural expansion which

necessitated invention

and innovation ceramics and metallurgy

were produced on mass

while jewelry of precious gems became a

mainstay

for the upper class as did fine cloth

woven by the laborers this model worked

well for the upper class

and the mass-produced items bread and

woven cloth

were also lucrative trade items but this

wealth never trickled down

to the lower class laborers who produced

the merchandise

mark vandemirrup explains the majority

of workers provided repetitive manual

labor

women were especially used as millers

and weavers

milling at this time was a back-breaking

task which required that grain

be rubbed back and forth over a stone

slab with a smaller handheld stone

the women were supposed to produce set

quotas on a daily basis

later weaving quotas could easily be as

high as

two square meters a day those were heavy

tasks

that could lead to physical injuries as

is shown by the skeletons of women

as the wealth and power of the cities

grew they attracted more

and more people from rural areas cities

afforded protection from

raiders slavers and the elements in

addition to providing opportunities for

work which at first anyway seemed

preferable to trying to scratch out a

living as an

independent farmer those who remained

in rural communities were left with the

burden of providing

at least the same amount of grain to the

cities and then

increasingly more than they had before

scholar gwendolyn lake notes as the city

grew larger and more populous

attracting more and more people eager to

escape the drudgery of subsistence

farming

and perhaps also the narrow horizons of

traditional communities

the demands on the remaining rural

population

increased tension and unrest seem to

have been met with violent repression

pictorial scenes on seals and other

objects

show groups of prisoners their hands

bound behind

their backs these scenes clearly depict

fellow citizens

not foreign prisoners held as slaves but

nothing was done to stop this practice

because of the very same model of the

household

which held society together the upper

class

heads of the households maintained large

estates

and the workers on those lands were

expected to produce to the household's

expectations

this placed a tremendous burden on the

workers to the extent that they seemed

to have seen

the mundane work in the city as

preferable

further as lake notes the climate

changed so that much less water was

carried by the rivers

and may have prompted even more people

to seek their survival

in the city each city rivaled the next

in population growth

and as cities became wealthier they

desired

even more around 2700 bce

and mabara gacy of kish led the sumerian

cities in a war

against elam the first war in recorded

history

and defeated the elamites carrying back

the spoils to sumer

this is one example of the city-states

working together for a common goal

but as scholar samuel noah kramer points

out

they had needed to find a way to do that

individually and collectively long

before the war

and it was this need for cooperation in

fact which had given rise to the

city-states to begin with

while the sumerians set a high value on

the individual

and his achievement there was one

overriding factor which fostered a

strong spirit of cooperation

among individuals and communities alike

the complete dependence of sumer on

irrigation

for its well-being indeed for its very

existence

irrigation is a complicated process

requiring communal effort

and organization canals had to be dug

and kept in constant repair the water

had to be divided equitably among all

concerned

to ensure this a power stronger than the

individual landowner

or even the single community was

mandatory

hence the growth of governmental

institutions

and the rise of the sumerian state

when they had to the city-states

cooperated and were able to accomplish

their goals

apart from necessary cooperation for

survival however

and this would include trade agreements

the cities pursued their own

self-interest

often to the detriment of others

early dynastic three the early dynastic

three period

witnessed the rise of kish in the north

and uruk in the south

as the two dominant political powers

this is the era in which the kings are

best historically archaeologically

attested

but still the dynasties of some cities

like

lagash are not included in the sumerian

king list

and the dates of that list for other

kings often do not correspond to dates

in

other documents or the archaeological

record

the great kings of uruk for example such

as meshkian gegasher

and markar who was said to have first

founded uruk

lugal banda dumuzi and the great hero

king gilgamesh

are all listed toward the beginning of

the early dynastic

3 period circa 2600 bce

but are also associated with earlier

rulers

such as anma bara gese and later kings

like ayanatum

circa 2500-2400 bce

there seems to be no reconciling these

differences

in chronology the first king

of the first dynasty of lagash or

nanchei

established lagash as a strong political

presence

and his son ayanatum would expand on his

policies

and conquer all of sumer ayanatum

calling upon enlil patron god of lagash

and ninota god of war

led his armies against the other

city-states

and conquered all of sumer including

uruk

and kish and then moved against the

elamites

and took large portions of their

territory

by the time his campaigns were over he

had created the first

empire in mesopotamia largely comprised

of the city-states of his former fellow

monarchs

his empire was challenged shortly after

his death however

and his successors could not maintain it

one of the most interesting and

mysterious of the monarchs

who are said to have freed their cities

from the empire of lagash

is the only female ruler on the sumerian

king list

kubaba also given as kug bao

who founded the third dynasty of kish

the sumerian king list describes her

briefly as

the woman tavern keeper who made firm

the foundations of kish

who she was where she came from and how

she came to power

is unknown her son puzor suen

and grandson urza baba were both

successful kings and

kubaba herself was deified after her

death

her cult in fact would inform the later

goddess of the horians

hepat and famously the phrygian mother

goddess matar kubelea

mother kibele who was worshipped by the

ionian greeks of anatolia kilakia

as kibele the akkadian period

whatever the royal accomplishments of

her grandson ur zababa were

they were eclipsed by the legends which

came to define the reign

of the man who enters history as his

cupbearer

sargon of akkad's biography which

scholars consider a highly mythologized

version of events

claims that he was born in the north the

illegitimate son of a changeling

who gave birth to him in secret and then

set him afloat on the river

in a basket of reeds which brought him

to the city of

kish where he was found by the royal

gardener

aki sargon grew up in the palace

and rose to the prestigious position of

cupber to urzababa

who favored him until the king had a

disturbing dream

suggesting sargon would depose him

at about this same time the king of the

city-state of uma

lugol zaghezi embarked on a campaign of

conquest to reunite sumer under a single

ruler

himself just as ayanatum had

or earlier sent sargon as an emissary to

lugol zaghezi

who was on the march toward kish

possibly with terms

but according to legend with the request

that the king of uma

kill the messenger sargon so

impressed lugol zaghazi however that the

king ignored the request

and asked sargon to join him they

marched on kish together and took it

ur zababa fled the city and nothing more

is known of him shortly after this

sargon turned on his benefactor and

defeated him

dragging him in chains with a rope

around his neck

to the city of nippor where he was

publicly humiliated in being marched

through the sacred gate of the god and

lille

in whom lou galzaghezi had trusted for

victory

and then presumably executed

sargon then proclaimed himself king and

went on to conquer

all of mesopotamia and found the acadian

empire the first multinational political

entity

in history conclusion

the acadian empire brings the early

dynastic period to a close

but contrary to sargon's later boasts

and the legends that grew up around him

he could not have established his empire

without

the foundation laid by his predecessors

sargon's greatest strength in fact was

learning from the mistakes of the

earlier conquerors

and placing people he could trust in

positions of authority

throughout his empire including his

daughter

and hedwana live 2285 to 2250 bce

high priestess of the temple of inanna

at the city of ur

and the first author in history known by

name

as well as routinely sending trusted

officials throughout his realm to

maintain

order sargon's example would be followed

by the later

assyrian empire and the roman empire

in terms of cohesive government the

model of that government however was set

down by the sumerian kings

of the early dynastic period

these monarchs established a society

which

in spite of its weaknesses and rivalries

allowed for the development of many of

the most

fundamental aspects of civilization

so often taken for granted in the

present

day

my name is d w drafen i do voice over

and i'm available for hire

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you