ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Biographics Sargon of Akkad: Founder of the First Empire in History
Our story begins in Mesopotamia, often called the “cradle of civilization.” This region saw the rise of the first true civilization during the early Bronze Age, a time marked by significant advancements like farming, architecture, and writing. This civilization was known as Sumer, where people settled along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, forming cities such as Eridu, Uruk, Uma, and Kish.
Around 2900 BC, during the early dynastic period of Sumer, powerful leaders known as “lugals” began to rule these cities. For centuries, Sumer was divided into city-states, each with its own ruler. These city-states sometimes worked together but often found themselves in conflict. Amidst this backdrop, a man named Sargon emerged with a vision of conquest.
Sargon is a somewhat mysterious figure, with much of his life shrouded in legend. Our main source of information about him is the Sumerian King List, an ancient text that records the reigns of Sumerian kings. According to this list, Sargon was born in Agade, the son of a gardener. He started his career as a cupbearer to King Uzzababa of Kish. However, after surviving a dangerous mission, Sargon rose to power and founded the Akkadian Empire, the first empire in history.
Sargon is credited with founding the city of Akkad, which became the heart of his empire. Akkad also gave its name to the Akkadian language, which was heavily influenced by Sumerian. This language became the most widely spoken in Mesopotamia for about 1800 years. Although the exact location of Akkad remains unknown, it is frequently mentioned in ancient texts.
Under Sargon’s leadership, the Akkadian Empire expanded significantly, conquering many city-states and regions, including Elam to the east. Despite his successes, Sargon faced numerous revolts and challenges throughout his reign, which lasted over 40 years. After his death, the Akkadian Empire continued for about 140 years before it eventually declined due to external pressures.
Sargon’s impact on Mesopotamia was profound. He transformed the political landscape, setting the stage for future empires. His story is a testament to the complexities of power, ambition, and the difficulties of maintaining control over a vast and diverse empire. Through Sargon’s life, we learn about the challenges and triumphs of one of history’s first great leaders.
Research the key events in Mesopotamian history, starting from the rise of Sumer to the fall of the Akkadian Empire. Use this information to create a visual timeline. Include important dates, events, and figures, such as the founding of Sumerian city-states and Sargon’s conquests. Present your timeline to the class and explain the significance of each event.
Imagine you are part of Sargon’s court. In groups, role-play a scene where Sargon discusses his plans for expanding the Akkadian Empire. Assign roles such as Sargon, advisors, and city-state leaders. Discuss the challenges and strategies for maintaining control over the empire. Present your role-play to the class, highlighting the complexities of ruling an empire.
Using a blank map of Mesopotamia, mark the locations of important cities and regions during Sargon’s reign, such as Akkad, Kish, and Elam. Research the geographical features that influenced Sargon’s conquests and the empire’s expansion. Present your map to the class, explaining how geography played a role in the rise and fall of the Akkadian Empire.
Write a fictional diary entry from Sargon’s perspective. Describe a day in his life, focusing on his thoughts and feelings about ruling the Akkadian Empire. Consider the challenges he faced, such as revolts and maintaining control over diverse regions. Share your diary entry with the class and discuss the personal and political pressures of being an emperor.
Research the Akkadian and Sumerian languages. Learn a few basic words or phrases in each language. Create a short presentation comparing the two languages, focusing on their origins, similarities, and differences. Present your findings to the class, and teach your classmates the words or phrases you learned.
This story begins in Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilization. After several prehistoric periods, the early Bronze Age introduced the region’s first true civilization, characterized by advancements such as domestication, centralization, farming, architecture, and writing. This civilization was Sumer, consisting of groups of people who settled along the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Cities began to emerge, including Eridu, Uruk, Uma, and Kish, among others.
The early dynastic period of Sumer, starting around 2900 BC, marked the rise of kings who ruled over these cities, known by their Sumerian title, “lugal.” For several centuries, the Sumerians were divided into city-states, each with its own ruler, sometimes cooperating and sometimes in conflict. Eventually, one man with grand ambitions for conquest emerged: Sargon, who founded the Akkadian Empire at the end of the 24th century BC, marking the first empire in history.
Sargon’s life remains largely a mystery, with only one historical source considered somewhat contemporary: the Sumerian King List, an ancient cuneiform text found on various artifacts. The most complete version is on the World Blundell Prism tablet, dated around 1800 BC, nearly 500 years after Sargon’s time. The Sumerian King List details the kings of Sumer, often attributing them with reigns lasting hundreds or even thousands of years, making it difficult for scholars to take it at face value.
According to the text, Sargon was born in Agade, the son of a gardener. He became the cupbearer to King Uzzababa of Kish. Fearing Sargon, Uzzababa sent him on a mission that was essentially a death sentence. However, Sargon survived and eventually took power, leading to the establishment of the Akkadian Empire.
Sargon is credited with founding the city of Akkad, which became the capital of his empire and the birthplace of the Akkadian language. This language, influenced by Sumerian, became the most common in Mesopotamia for around 1800 years. The exact location of Akkad remains a mystery, but it is referenced in numerous ancient texts.
Sargon’s empire expanded significantly, conquering various city-states and regions, including Elam to the east. He faced numerous revolts and challenges throughout his reign, which lasted over 40 years. After Sargon’s death, the Akkadian Empire continued for about 140 years before facing decline and eventual collapse due to external pressures.
Sargon’s legacy is profound, as he transformed the political landscape of Mesopotamia, paving the way for future empires. His story illustrates the complexities of power, ambition, and the challenges of maintaining control over a vast and diverse empire.
Civilization – A complex society characterized by urban development, social stratification, a form of government, and symbolic systems of communication such as writing. – Ancient Egypt is considered one of the world’s earliest civilizations due to its advanced architecture and writing system.
Mesopotamia – An ancient region located in the eastern Mediterranean, known as the “cradle of civilization” for its early developments in writing, agriculture, and urbanization. – Mesopotamia is often referred to as the birthplace of writing, with the Sumerians developing cuneiform script.
Sumer – An ancient civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, known for its innovations in writing, architecture, and governance. – The Sumerians are credited with creating one of the first known writing systems, cuneiform, around 3200 BCE.
City-states – Independent, self-governing cities that also control surrounding territories, common in ancient Mesopotamia and Greece. – Each Sumerian city-state, such as Ur and Uruk, had its own ruler and patron deity.
Sargon – The first ruler of the Akkadian Empire, known for uniting the city-states of Mesopotamia under his rule around 2334 BCE. – Sargon of Akkad is often credited with creating the first empire in recorded history.
Akkadian – Relating to the Akkadian Empire or its people, language, and culture, which dominated Mesopotamia after the Sumerians. – The Akkadian language became the lingua franca of the ancient Near East during Sargon’s reign.
Empire – A large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories. – The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in history, stretching across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular community or country, often consisting of spoken, written, or signed words. – The development of written language in Mesopotamia allowed for the recording of laws, trade, and history.
Conquests – The act of conquering or taking control of a place or people, often by military force. – Alexander the Great’s conquests spread Greek culture across three continents, influencing many subsequent civilizations.
Legacy – Something handed down from an ancestor or from the past, often referring to cultural or historical achievements. – The legacy of the Roman Empire can be seen in modern legal systems, languages, and architecture.
