Sargon and The Rise of the Akkadian Empire Introduction • City of Kish was powerful by 3,500 B.C. • Over the next 1000 years Ur and Ukur fought for power. • Akkadian society develops north of Sumer. • Peace among three societies until 2300 B.C. Who was Sargon? • Served under king of the Kish. • With his army, he took over the city of Kish. • Gained loyalty of soldier by eating with them everyday. • Ruled Mesopotamia from 2334 B.C.-2279 B.C. • First ruler to have a permanent army. How he conquered Mesopotamia • Built Akkad on the Euphrates River. • Used army to take over city-states. • Conquered: – Sumer – Northern Mesopotamia. – Asia Minor What did he do? • Establish the worlds first empire. – Land with different territories and peoples under a single ruler. – Known as the Akkadian Empire • Empire stretched from Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea Sargon’s Empire • Ruled for 55 years. • Lasted only a century after his death. • Without his rule, the Akkadian Empire was overrun. • SARGON’S EMPIRE UNITED THE MESOPOTAMIAN CITYSTATES FOR THE FIRST TIME.