The Fall of Sumer and the Rise of Akkad

1. The Fall of Sumer and the Rise of Akkad

2. The Rise of Akkad • Sumer city-states weakened each other by fighting over land and water. • In 2300 B.C., Sumer was conquered by King Sargon of Akkad. • Sargon actually united the city-states and improved their government and military. • Sumer remained under Akkadian control for nearly 200 years.

3. King Sargon – The General • Sargon was a great military general. • He taught soldiers how to fight in formations • Soldiers with shields would be in front, with a layer of soldiers with spears behind them. • Eventually, Sargon controlled all of Mesopotamia. • He destroyed all the city-state walls to make sure they stayed loyal to him.

4. Agade • Sargon ruled for 56 years before he died. • He had become the world’s first emperor. • He created a capital city in Agade in northern Mesopotamia. • Agade was a center of culture, and became the richest and most powerful city in the world.

5. Sumerian Culture Lived on • The Akkadians ruled Sumer, but Sumerian culture survived. • The Akkadians used Sumer’s irrigation systems. • The Akkadians wrote in cuneiform. • The Akkadians even worshipped the same gods, using different names.

6. Akkadian culture • The Akkadians had their own culture, too. • They created 3D sculptures called steles. • The most famous stele is the Victory Stele • Created to celebrate a victory by Sargon’s grandson, King Naram-sin.

7. Akkadian Empire Falls • The Akkadian Empire was hard to control because of its size. • After 200 years, the Akkadian empire fell apart in 2100 B.C. • Sumer returned to a city-state system, but it was much weaker. • Sumer existed until 1800 B.C. when it was finally conquered by Hammurabi.