The World's First Superpower: Sargon of Akkad and the Mighty Akkadian Empire - Bronze Age History

History with Cy・2 minutes read

Sumerians created mega farms in southern Mesopotamia and developed cuneiform writing, leading to the rise of prominent cities and rulers like King Urukagina and Lugal-zag-gazi. Sargon of Akkad, a commoner, rose to power through conquests, expanding the Akkadian Empire and establishing Agade as the capital, with his successors facing uprisings and conflicts that eventually led to the downfall of the Acadian dynasty.

Insights

  • The Sumerians in Mesopotamia created the first mega farms and developed writing in the form of cuneiform for administrative tasks.
  • Sargon of Akkad, a commoner, rose to power from humble origins to become king through conquests, expanding his empire significantly.
  • The Acadian Empire under rulers like Naramsin saw advancements in administration, language standardization, and integration of territories through diplomatic marriages, but ultimately fell due to internal conflicts, marking the end of the Acadian dynasty.

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  • Who were the Sumerians?

    Early Mesopotamian civilization.

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Summary

00:00

"Sumerians: Origins, Kings, and Conquests"

  • By 2400 BC, the fertile Plains of southern Mesopotamia were home to Sumerians, who created the first mega farms in history.
  • The Sumerians developed the earliest form of writing, known as cuneiform, initially for administrative purposes.
  • Prominent Sumerian cities included Uruk, Ur, Kish, Lagash, Nippur, Eridu, Adab, and Uma.
  • King Urukagina of Lagash ruled for 9 years, attempting reforms to protect common people from abuses by the powerful.
  • Lugal-zag-gazi, ruler of Umma, conquered Lagash, destroying its capital and temple, leading to instability in Sumer.
  • Lugal-zag-gazi embarked on a military campaign to unite Sumer under his rule, boasting of his vast conquests.
  • Sargon of Akkad, a commoner, rose to power, with limited historical records but legends highlighting his rise to kingship.
  • Sargon's birth legend narrates his humble origins, being raised by a water drawer and eventually becoming king.
  • The Acadians, an Eastern Semitic group, lived in Akkad, north of Sumer, with little known about their origins.
  • The Sumerian Sargon Legend recounts Sargon's rise to power, including his role as a cup bearer and his eventual overthrow of Ur-zababa.

19:41

Sargon of Akkad: Rise to Power and Conquests

  • Sargon of Akkad rose from a common gardener to the position of Royal Cup Bearer at the court of Kish, showcasing his charisma and rapid ascent to power.
  • After becoming the king of Kish, Sargon embarked on numerous conquests, defeating Uruk and capturing Lugalzaggesi, the king of Uruk, in battle.
  • Sargon led 5,400 men daily before him, forming a loyal private army that accompanied him in his conquests.
  • Sargon expanded his empire into Ilam, capturing Susa, Arawa, and Sabun, causing unrest among the Elamites in the highlands.
  • Sargon ventured west, capturing Mari, Aleppo, and Ebla in Syria, possibly reaching as far as Southwestern Anatolia.
  • Sargon's military campaign against Purushanda in Southern Anatolia is detailed in the King of Battle, showcasing his prowess as a warrior.
  • Sargon's daughter, Enheduanna, became the high priestess of the Moon god Nana in Ur, overseeing its wealthy endowment and becoming a renowned poet.
  • Sargon established the Akkadian language as the official administrative language, promoting cohesion among his multicultural subjects.
  • Sargon founded the new capital city of Agade, becoming the political and economic hub of the Akkadian Empire, attracting trade from distant lands.
  • After Sargon's death, his son Rimush faced significant uprisings in Sumer, brutally suppressing rebellions and solidifying Akkadian dominance.

39:44

Akkadian Kings: Conquests, Assassinations, and Deification

  • Rush faced rebellions in Sumer and Kazal, an Akkadian city, where he killed 12,052 men and took 5,862 prisoners.
  • Rush defeated a coalition led by Ilam and Marashi, killing 16,22 men, capturing 4,216 prisoners, and conquering Ilam's cities.
  • In 2275 BC, Rush swore to the gods after killing 74,144 men and erected statues of himself in Nippur.
  • Rush was assassinated in 2270 BC, possibly by his brother Manishtushu, who succeeded him as king of Akkad.
  • Manishtushu expanded the empire into Southern and Eastern Iran, obtaining valuable resources from Magan.
  • Manishtushu focused on empire-building, founding temples in Nineveh and Sippar, and was assassinated after 15 years.
  • Naramsin, possibly the greatest Acadian king, faced the Great Revolt, defeating cities like Kish and Uruk in battles.
  • Naramsin deified himself after nine victorious battles, becoming the god of Agade and building temples to various deities.
  • Naramsin renovated the E'or temple, a significant religious sanctuary, with a large workforce and vast resources.
  • Economic texts from Naramsin's reign show Acadian control over territories like Susa, Arawa, and Uas, with tensions between Acadians and Elamites evident in Susa's population and food imports.

59:19

Naramsin's Empire: Expansion, Administration, and Decline

  • Naramsin issued a list of commandments to a vassal, possibly the Elamite king Hea of Awan, demanding troops and statues in Susa's temples.
  • The document emphasized loyalty to Naramsin, stating, "The enemy of Naram is my enemy, the friend of Naramsin is my friend."
  • Naramsin expanded his empire to the west, including modern-day Lebanon and the Mediterranean shores, subjugating various tribes and territories.
  • Naramsin improved administrative systems established by Sargon, creating elite officials like the shaum and land registrar to oversee governance and land management.
  • The Acadian Empire confiscated land from temples and local elites, redistributing it to officials as rewards or payment, reducing the power of temple institutions.
  • Naramsin standardized the Acadian language, weights, measures, and recordkeeping methods to unify the realm and enhance efficiency.
  • Diplomatic marriages were used to integrate territories like Ilam into the Acadian Empire, ensuring loyalty and stability.
  • Naramsin's reign saw changes in writing styles, cylinder seals, and administrative structures, with his children holding significant religious and political roles.
  • Shar khalish Shari succeeded Naramsin, overseeing the construction of temples in Babylon, but faced conflicts with enemies like the Amorites, Elamites, and Gutians.
  • The downfall of the Acadian Empire, possibly due to factors like drought and famine, led to political instability and infighting among rulers, marking the end of the Acadian dynasty.

01:17:43

Sargon's conquests shaped ancient empires and languages.

  • Sargon's military achievements influenced future rulers to establish their own empires, transforming culturally significant regions like Akad, Sumer, and Ilam, with the Acadian language becoming dominant across Mesopotamia and beyond, from Egypt to Eastern Iran and the Indus Valley Civilization.
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