Ancient Apocalypse: The Akkadian Empire | History Documentary

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The Akkadian Empire, the world's first empire, thrived from 2334 BCE until its collapse in 2193 BCE, attributed to a 300-year drought that devastated their agricultural base and led to chaos and unrest in the region. Evidence from sediment samples, stalagmites, and archaeological artifacts supports the theory that environmental factors, specifically a prolonged drought intensified by El Nino, played a significant role in the downfall of the Akkadian Empire.

Insights

  • The Akkadian Empire, the first empire in the world, rose to power in 2334 BCE by conquering Sumerian city-states, extending its reach from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea and modern-day Turkey, fostering a prosperous era of trade and growth.
  • The Akkadian Empire's downfall in 2193 BCE, following 140 years of prosperity, remains shrouded in mystery, with theories ranging from a curse brought on by sacrilegious acts to a 300-year drought triggered by a dust event, aligning with evidence from various disciplines like geology and archaeology, suggesting a region-wide environmental catastrophe led to the empire's collapse.

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Recent questions

  • What was the Akkadian Empire?

    The Akkadian Empire was the world's first empire, established in 2334 BCE after conquering Sumerian lands and uniting city-states under one rule.

  • Who decoded the Cuneiform script?

    Sir Henry Rawlinson decoded the Cuneiform script, revealing ancient texts on medicine, astrology, and history, including references to the Akkadians, the first empire.

  • How did the Akkadian Empire collapse?

    The Akkadian Empire collapsed around 2193 BCE due to a 300-year drought that led to the loss of their agricultural base, causing hunger and chaos.

  • What was the significance of the library of Ashurbanipal?

    The library of Ashurbanipal, discovered by Sir Austin Henry Layard, contained 30,000 clay tablets with Cuneiform script, unlocking ancient Mesopotamian history.

  • What led to the downfall of the Akkadian Empire?

    The curse of Akkad legend suggests that sacrilegious actions by King Naram-Sin led to the gods praying for the empire's destruction, resulting in its downfall.

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Summary

00:00

Rise and Fall of Akkadian Empire

  • The Akkadian Empire, the world's first empire, emerged in 2334 BCE after the Akkadians conquered the Sumerian lands, uniting city-states under one banner.
  • The Akkadian Empire spanned from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea and into modern-day Turkey, creating a prosperous period with extensive trade routes.
  • After 140 years of prosperity, the Akkadian Empire fractured in 2193 BCE, leading to chaos and the empire's eventual erasure from history.
  • British archaeologist Sir Austin Henry Layard discovered the library of Ashurbanipal, containing 30,000 clay tablets with Cuneiform script, unlocking ancient Mesopotamian history.
  • Sir Henry Rawlinson decoded the Cuneiform script, revealing texts on medicine, astrology, and history, including references to the Akkadians, the forgotten world's first empire.
  • Sargon of Akkad, the first king of the Akkadian Empire, established a standing army funded by grain taxes, expanding the empire through conquest and subjugation.
  • Under King Naram-Sin, the Akkadian Empire reached its peak with vast construction projects and territorial control, culminating in Naram-Sin declaring himself a god.
  • The curse of Akkad legend suggests that Naram-Sin's sacrilegious actions led to the gods praying for the empire's destruction, resulting in the downfall of the Akkadian Empire.
  • Using the Sumerian king list and recorded solar eclipses, scholars dated the rise of the Akkadian Empire to 2334 BCE and its collapse around 2193 BCE.
  • The deciphering of Cuneiform texts and historical artifacts shed light on the Akkadians, a civilization lost to time, and their significant impact on ancient Mesopotamia.

18:14

Mystery of Akkadian Empire Collapse Unveiled

  • Kings reigned for a short period, indicating unrest and chaos in the empire.
  • The collapse of the Akkadian empire remains a mystery to archaeologists.
  • Sumerians, known for their innovations, were conquered by the Akkadians to form the first empire.
  • The success of the Sumerians was due to their mastery of farming and irrigation.
  • The Akkadians relied on a complex bureaucratic system to manage irrigation canals for survival and expansion.
  • Expansion into the rain-fed Khabur Plains allowed the Akkadians to feed their empire.
  • Evidence of large-scale burning and abandoned sites suggests conflict and attack on the Akkadians.
  • Geologist Marie Agnes Courty theorizes that a dust bomb caused by lightning led to the destruction of Akkadian sites.
  • Courty's analysis of plastic polymers found at the sites links them to lightning strikes.
  • Ocean floor sediment specialist Dr. Frank Sirocko's analysis of dust particles in the Gulf of Oman supports Courty's theory of a dust event lasting 300 years.

39:39

Akkadian Empire Collapse Linked to 300-Year Drought

  • A 300-year long drought led to the collapse of the Akkadian empire due to the loss of their agricultural base, resulting in hunger and chaos.
  • Various civilizations, including the Egyptian old kingdom and the Indus Valley Civilization, also faced collapse and abandonment of cities during this period, hinting at a severe region-wide drought.
  • The Sumerian King List indicates confusion and chaos post-2193 BC, aligning with a dust spike in sediment samples from the Gulf of Oman around 2200 BC, suggesting a correlation with the Akkadian collapse.
  • Analysis of stalagmites from Iran revealed a 300-year dust spike around 2200 BC, originating from Mesopotamia, indicating a likely drought in the region.
  • The drought possibly caused by El Nino intensified around 2200 BCE, leading to the collapse of the Akkadian empire as evidenced by dead soil at Tell Leilan, abandoned settlements, and a 300-year gap in occupation from 2200 to 1900 BC.
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