ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA:
2334 - 2154 BCE
Akkad
By: Emily E, Bethany H, Josh T & Sarah P
Akkad
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Akkad was the north western half of
ancient Mesopotamia.
The inhabitants of Akkad, had their
own Akkadian language which
eventually came to replace Sumerian
over the centuries before and after
2000 BCE.
In the 23rd and 24th centuries BCE,
Akkad had emerged as the strongest
of Mesopotamia
Around 2330 BCE, the Akkadian
Empire rose to the strongest in the
region and probably also in the
world at that time.
Akkad
The heartland
of Akkad was
where the
Euphrates and
Tigris rivers
are at their
closest.
Akkad
Writing and intellect.
Bethany Henshall
Writing
 By about 2500 BCE, the Akkadian started using cuneiform to
write their own language. However, it was ascendancy of the
Akkadian dynasty in 2300 BCE that positioned Akkadian over
the Sumerian as the primary language of Mesopotamia.
Writing
 Sumerian and Akkadian are vastly different languages.
Akkadian was inflectional, meaning that it was basic form of a
word, called a root.
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Notable features
 Number of symbols: between 200 and 400 symbols were used to
Akkadian, though in some texts many more appear.
 Many of the symbols had multiple pronunciations
Examples:
 Here is some
Of the words
They use.
Sample text
This is what it would have looked like
AKKADIAN MILITARY
Sarah Pedro
WEAPONRY
The Composite Bow
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The composite bow was
one of the major inventions
of the Akkadians. Its pull
was 2-3 times that of the
simple bow and it was able
to efficiently penetrate
leather armor and some of
the early bronze armors at
up to100 yards.
Used throughout the next
fifteen hundred years.
WEAPONRY
The Spear
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The Spear was used for
mid range.
It was primarily a
thrusting weapon and was
used to deliver fatal
puncture wounds.
WEAPONRY
The Mace
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The Mace was used for
fighting in short range.
It was a piece of wood
covered in metal studs
which enabled extra power
for bone breaking.
WEAPONRY
Armor
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Copper helmets were used
to protect soldiers from
strong bows to the head.
They also had armored
cloaks that covered the
body with metal disks
lined with leather
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Akkad had one of the most sophisticated armies of the
Bronze Age
Sargon The Great, who ruled for 56 years, was the
Akkadian military leader and was considered founder of
Mesopotamian military tradition that runs through
Mesopotamian history.
He conquered Sumer and built the Akkadian empire which
stretched over most of the Sumerian city states.
Sargon launched a campaign of military conquest to unite
all of Mesopotamia
He also conquered all of southern Mesopotamia as well as
parts of Syria, Anatolia, and Elam (western Iran)
He then became king over all of southern Mesopotamia
Akkad: Art and Architecture
By: Emily Edwards
Akkad: Art
• Sargon profoundly affected his people through
art, politics and language which is why the
most famous sculpture left behind was one
believed to be Sargon himself
The head of
what is believed
to be Sargon, is
considered one
of the great
masterpieces of
ancient art.
Sargon of
Akkad
Why Art?
• The Akkadian’s used art as a form of
indication
• The rulers used it to stay in power, while the
people used it to show gratitude
• The Akkadian kings wanted art to remind the
conquered people how important, impressive
and powerful the kings were in hopes they
wouldn’t revolt
• When the enemies attacked they carried away
and destroyed whatever art they could
Akkadian Art
Joshua Toy
•Sargon the Great was the first ruler of Akkad
•He conquered the Sumerians in 233 BCE
•He unified Mesopotamia and spread his
culture all through the fertile Crescent
Akkad was the first Nation to ever rule with dynasties
before this the new king had to be elected by the rich in
each city
Though the kingdom of Akkad didn’t last
long, only 3 generations the idea of
passing the throne down father to son
was used for thousands of years
afterwards.
 Because he created such a vast empire
bound together by roads he spread the
idea of dynasties as well as many
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other ideas throughout the whole
fertile crescent