He established the region's first Semitic dynasty and was considered the founder of the Mesopotamian military tradition. He was a powerful and innovative warrior who brutally subdued his opponents and established a precedent for imperialism in Mesopotamia.
Sargon became king over all of southern Mesopotamia, the first great ruler for whom, rather than Sumerian, the Semitic tongue known as Akkadian was natural from birth, although some earlier kings with Semitic names are recorded in the Sumerian king list.
Sargon built his empire on the idea of controlling the known world. Sargon may have had the world’s first professional standing army to protect him from his rebellious subjects. In his royal court, “5400 men daily [ate] in the presence of Sargon.” Many of these men were likely priests, scribes, and courtiers of various types; however, the large number of men indicates that he probably had a large personal guard or a standing army.
Under Sargon and his successors, Akkadian language was briefly imposed on neighboring conquered states such as Elam. Akkad is sometimes regarded as the first empire in history.
The Akkadian empire first started its decline when there were many rebellions and attacks against the empire. The new emperors of the empire were struggling to keep the empire together which assisted in the decline.
Sargon of Akkad
