Rise of Empires Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians

Question What are some characteristics of an Empire?

Why an empire? Empire: when several peoples, nations, or previously independent states are placed under the control of one ruler. 3,000 – 2,000 B.C.E. the City-States began to war with each other. These internal struggles meant they were too weak to ward off an attack by an outside enemy.

Sargon of Akkad Ruled 2334–2279 BC According to legend, a gardener found a baby floating in a basket on a river and raised him as his own child. As a young man, Sargon served Ur-Zababa, the king of Kish. Sargon later rebelled against the Sumerian ruler, took over his city, and built Akkad into a military power. He was among the first military leaders to use soldiers armed with bows and arrows. Sargon gained the loyalty of his soldiers by eating with them every day.

Question What are some possible reasons why empires fail?

The Akkadian Empire The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years, 2350 – approx B.C.E. Reasons for the Empire’s Demise: Invasions Internal fighting Severe famine

Victory Stele of Naram-Sin Akkadian, c BC c. 6' 7" tall -Numerous accoutrements signifying his status and authority: He is wearing the horned helmet showing his god-like status and is carrying numerous weapons including spears and a bow.

Traditional Explanation Divine Retribution -Sargon’s grandson Naram-Sin who inherited the Akkadian kingdom had angered the gods and sent the barbarians called Gutians to overwhelm the Akkadian towns

Question How does the traditional explanation for the fall of the Akkadians contain inaccuracies?

Scientific Explanation 300-year drought -microscopic analysis of soil moisture at the ruins of Akkadian cities in the northern farmlands showed that there was a severe drought beginning in 2200 BC

Akkadians Fled -Akkadian cities were abandoned and people migrated south -migrations doubled the populations of the southern cities and resulted in lack of food and water supplies -led to fighting and the fall of the Akkadian Empire

Empire Falls -drought produced many refugees among them a group called the Amorites -“ravaging people with instincts of a beast, a people who know not grain” -Amorites rose to power and were based in Babylon -drought ended 1900 BC and Hammurabi (an Amorite) rose to power around 1800 BC

Leading Archaeologist “This is the first time an abrupt climate change has been directly linked to the collapse of a thriving civilization” -Dr. Harvey Weiss, a Yale University archaeologist

Question How does climate change have a direct impact on civilization?