The Akkadian Empire was the first empire of ancient Mesopotamia, founded by Sargon of Akkad, who united the Sumerian city-states of southern Mesopotamia with the Semitic-speaking north under his rule. Its capital, Akkad, has never been definitively located, but it was probably on the Tigris or Euphrates near modern Baghdad. Sargon's successors, notably his grandson Naram-Sin, extended control as far as Anatolia and western Iran and took the title King of the Four Quarters. The Akkadian language, written in cuneiform, became a diplomatic and literary language for centuries. The empire fell after a period of unrest, invasions by the Gutians and possibly drought, and the region later came under the rule of the Third Dynasty of Ur.
Before and after
- from c. 2,500 BCE to 64 BCEPhoenicia
- from c. 2,498 BCE to 2,345 BCEFifth Dynasty of Egypt
- c. 2,360 BCEOrigins of Pyramid of Unas
- from c. 2,345 BCE to 2,181 BCESixth Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,334 BCE to 2,154 BCEAkkadian Empire
- from c. 2,300 BCE to 1,000 BCEAndronovo culture
- c. 2,300 BCEEruption of Blanco, Cerro
- from c. 2,205 BCE to 1,600 BCEXia dynasty (traditional dates)
- from c. 2,200 BCE to 1,700 BCEBactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex
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- from 476 CE to 1492Middle Ages
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 24th century BCE.