Akkad (2334 -2190 BC) is the first world-empire in history. It unified the Mesopotamian city states under a single rule, with the combination of bow and infantry.
The area of the Fertile Crescent needed a storing ruler, and Sargon established the empire – Akkadian Empire.
The first emperor Sargon of Akkad remained the essential hero and a criterion of success for the upcoming emperors. Sargon, the founder of the Akkadian Empire, epitomized the successful king, beloved of the gods, becoming the role model for later dynasts.
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| Sargon of Akkad |
Sargon created the largest empire the world had yet known, stretching from Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean and encompassing most of modern Iraq and Syria and over twice the size in population and land of contemporary Egypt.
Akkadian emperors Naram-Sin the grandson of Sargon used the title ‘king of the four quarters of the world’.
During the Akkadian period craftsmen advanced their skills in architecture and sculpture. The Akkadian kings standardized weights and measures and the script, made Akkadian the official language and probably introduced the practice of keeping a calendar by naming each year after a particular event.
Elegant Akkadian palaces stood as powerful fortress and featured large halls, bathing chambers, kitchens and private bedroom.
The Akkadians either rebuilt or expanded temples throughout their temples. The dominant feature of a temple complex was the ziggurat; a pyramid shaped stepped building with a flat top.
Akkadian Empire
