Akkadians
The Akkadians were an ancient civilization that emerged in Mesopotamia during the latter part of the third millennium BCE, notable for their use of the Semitic language, Akkadian. Their cultural prominence peaked during the Akkadian Dynasty, also known as the Dynasty of Agade, founded by Sargon of Akkad around 2334 BCE. Sargon, who rose from humble beginnings, established a powerful empire through military conquests across northern Mesopotamia, Syria, and parts of modern-day Turkey and Iran, while also implementing administrative innovations such as the introduction of year names and unified measurement systems.
The dynasty saw influential figures such as Sargon's daughter, Enheduanna, recognized as one of the first known female poets and high priestesses, indicating the significant role of women in Akkadian society. The Akkadian period is often divided into two segments: the establishment and consolidation of power under Sargon and his immediate successors, and the later achievements during the reign of his grandson, Naram-Sin, who was known for his military exploits and the unique practice of deifying himself. Despite this initial success, the Akkadian Dynasty eventually faced challenges that led to its decline, attributed to a combination of factors including weakened control over territories and pressure from surrounding groups. The dynastic legacy faded as new powers, such as Utu-Hegal of Uruk, emerged in southern Mesopotamia.
On this Page
Akkadians
Date: c. 2300-2100 b.c.e.
Locale: Mesopotamia, Iraq
Akkadians
The Akkadians (a-KAD-ee-uhns) in Mesopotamia in the latter part of the third millennium b.c.e. used a Semitic language called Akkadian. Although their existence in Mesopotamia can be detected from the Early Dynastic period, the culmination of their culture was the Akkadian Dynasty, also called the Dynasty of Agade or the Sargonic Dynasty. Akkadian culture was absorbed by other ethnic groups who subsequently entered Mesopotamia.
The Akkadian period can be divided into two parts: from the establishment of the dynasty by Sargon of Akkad through the reigns of his sons Rimush and Manishtusu, and from the golden period achieved by his grandson Naram-Sin to the period of collapse.
The first dynast, Sargon (r. c. 2334-2279 b.c.e.), came from humble origins. His rise to power and military successes served to inspire the “Sargon legend,” which partially parallels the later biblical story of the birth of Moses. Sargon built his capital Akkad (Agade; perhaps modern Ishan Mizyad) near Babylon. He campaigned in northern Mesopotamia, Syria, eastern Turkey, and western Iran and then conquered southern Mesopotamia. He tried to replace native local rulers in southern Mesopotamia with his family or Akkadian officials, although this was not always possible. He introduced year names, calling a year by a memorable event, and systems of unified measurements (although this may be the work of his successors). He also appointed one daughter, Enheduanna, as high priestess in the Sumerian city of Ur, to better control the important city. The installation of a princess as high priestess of Ur became a tradition for five hundred years. Enheduanna was also known as a compiler of various hymns and lauded as the first female poet.
Naram-Sin’s campaigns to Syria, eastern Turkey, and western Iran are better attested, although his actual control was apparently limited to Mesopotamia proper. He was the first Mesopotamian king to deify himself in art and royal titulary. However, later literary compositions blame the collapse of the dynasty on his sacrilegious destruction of a temple. The real cause of the collapse was probably the dynasty’s loose control over conquered territory and pressure from various neighboring ethnic groups, not merely the Gutian invasion, as was formerly believed. In reality, the Akkadian Dynasty was still stable even in the reign of Naram-Sin’s successor Shar-kali-sharri, although its territory was probably reduced to Akkad and its environs. Hegemony of southern Mesopotamia was seized by Utu-Hegal of Uruk some decades after Shar-kali-sharri.
Bibliography
Franke, Sabina. “Kings of Akkad.” In Civilizations of Ancient Near East. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1995.
Hallo, W. W., and W. K. Simpson. The Ancient Near East: A History. 2d ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1998.
Kurt, Amélie. The Ancient Near East c. 3000-330 b.c. London: Routledge, 1995.