LeGenD
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Before SARGON of AKKAD; the age of city-states
(1)
(2)
The area which formed Sumer started at the Persian Gulf and reached north to the 'neck' of Mesopotamia where the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates meander much closer to each other. To the east loomed the Zagros Mountains, where scattered city states thrived on trade and learning from Sumer, and to the west was the vast expanse of the Arabian desert. ----(2)
SARGON of AKKAD emerged in the city-state of Kish:
Before Sargon took power, the prominent Sumerian city-states of Ur and Uruk contended with Kish to their north, in Akkad, near modern-day Baghdad. Sargon began his rise as a cupbearer to the king of Kish, whom he eventually overthrew. He then led troops against the great rival ruler to the south, Lugalzagesi, who commanded all of Sumer. Animosities among Sumerian city-states may have hampered Lugalzagesi in his fight against Sargon, who captured him and placed a yoke around his neck. A celebratory inscription later boasted that Sargon triumphed in 34 battles on his march to the Persian Gulf, where he "washed his weapons in the sea." ----(1)
Ruins of Kish at a glance:
(3)
Learn more about the history of Kish in the following link: https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsMiddEast/MesopotamiaKish.htm
Modern-age partitions of the region (Mesopotamia):
(1)
SARGON of AKKAD
Comprehensive account in the following link: https://www.ancient.eu/Sargon_of_Akkad/
The Akkadian Army at a glance:
(4)
The Akkadian army was professional—highly trained and organized—with no use for the untrained, poorly armed skirmishers. Finally, southern Mesopotamia was a land crisscrossed by canals and rivers where boats were the only way to effectively move an army. Thus Sargon must have had marine units or some type of naval transports.
Some of the changes in the infantry and chariot tactics may have been in the works before Sargon came into power, but he infused the professionalism that gave these troops their edge, and the archer units were definitely an Akkadian development. Sargon had an extremely large personal guard for he wrote that "5,400 men eat bread daily before him [Sargon]," and these may have served as the core troops he needed for developing the larger army when he expanded beyond traditional Mesopotamia.
In Sargon-era wars, a victory was usually followed by the almost wholesale slaughter of prisoners, and those who were spared were carried off as slaves. In fact, the name of Sargon's wife, Ashlultum, means "I took you as spoil." ----(4)
Details in the following link:
The Akkadian Empire
(5)
The Akkadian Empire from circa 2300 BC to 2100 BC. This was the empire created by the conquests of Sargon, the king of Akkad. The land of Akkad and the Akkadian language are actually named after the city. This was a time of big armies that combined troops from many city-states and out-lying kingdoms. Towards the end of the preceeding phase, successful commanders, such as Lugalzagesi of Uruk, had managed to subjugate several rival cities to create a temporary empire. It was Sargon, an inspired commander of obscure origins, who seized power in the city of Kish and went on to vanquish Lugalzagesi and conquer all of Sumer. He founded the city of Akkad (or Agade) after which the land of Akkad is named. In further campaigns he established a widespread empire, extending well beyond Sumer and Akkad. His successors in the Dynasty of Akkad held on to these conquests and expanded the empire despite rebellions. At its furthest extent, the Akkadian Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond into Anatolia. A new name had to be found to describe an imperial king and this was 'Ruler of the Four Quarters'. Efforts were begun to introduce new methods of governing such a wide realm in order to counteract the tendency of cities and tribes to reassert independence at every opportunity. Akkad became a powerful capital, but in due course the empire began to crumble. The Sumerian cities were determined to win their independence. Akkadian governors were ousted in favour of rebel rulers, leading to the need for frequent re-conquest by Akkadian kings. Ultimately it was climate change in the form of increasing aridity in upper Mesopotamia, combined with the incursions of barbarous Gutian tribes from the Zagros Mountains in Iran, which brought down the empire. One notable military development during this phase was the increasing use of the powerful composite bow. ----(6)
Academic account in the following link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41636304?seq=1
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
The Assyrian Empire (Assyria in short): https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/assyrian-military-the-worlds-first-professional-army.574303/
REFERENCES
(1) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people/reference/king-sargon-akkad/
(2) https://www.ancient.eu/image/1352/map-of-sumer/
(3) https://www.ancient-code.com/ancient-city-kish-first-city-gods-great-flood/
(4) https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2...diers-king-sargon-of-akkads-expanding-empire/
(5) https://www.ancient.eu/image/160/map-of-the-akkadian-empire/
(6) https://www.warlordgames.com/history-sumerian-akkadian-warfare-part-1-military-development/
(7) Grayson, A. K. (1974). The Empire of Sargon of Akkad. Archiv für Orientforschung, 25, 56-64.
The area which formed Sumer started at the Persian Gulf and reached north to the 'neck' of Mesopotamia where the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates meander much closer to each other. To the east loomed the Zagros Mountains, where scattered city states thrived on trade and learning from Sumer, and to the west was the vast expanse of the Arabian desert. ----(2)
SARGON of AKKAD emerged in the city-state of Kish:
Before Sargon took power, the prominent Sumerian city-states of Ur and Uruk contended with Kish to their north, in Akkad, near modern-day Baghdad. Sargon began his rise as a cupbearer to the king of Kish, whom he eventually overthrew. He then led troops against the great rival ruler to the south, Lugalzagesi, who commanded all of Sumer. Animosities among Sumerian city-states may have hampered Lugalzagesi in his fight against Sargon, who captured him and placed a yoke around his neck. A celebratory inscription later boasted that Sargon triumphed in 34 battles on his march to the Persian Gulf, where he "washed his weapons in the sea." ----(1)
Ruins of Kish at a glance:
Learn more about the history of Kish in the following link: https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsMiddEast/MesopotamiaKish.htm
Modern-age partitions of the region (Mesopotamia):
SARGON of AKKAD
Comprehensive account in the following link: https://www.ancient.eu/Sargon_of_Akkad/
The Akkadian Army at a glance:
The Akkadian army was professional—highly trained and organized—with no use for the untrained, poorly armed skirmishers. Finally, southern Mesopotamia was a land crisscrossed by canals and rivers where boats were the only way to effectively move an army. Thus Sargon must have had marine units or some type of naval transports.
Some of the changes in the infantry and chariot tactics may have been in the works before Sargon came into power, but he infused the professionalism that gave these troops their edge, and the archer units were definitely an Akkadian development. Sargon had an extremely large personal guard for he wrote that "5,400 men eat bread daily before him [Sargon]," and these may have served as the core troops he needed for developing the larger army when he expanded beyond traditional Mesopotamia.
In Sargon-era wars, a victory was usually followed by the almost wholesale slaughter of prisoners, and those who were spared were carried off as slaves. In fact, the name of Sargon's wife, Ashlultum, means "I took you as spoil." ----(4)
Details in the following link:
The Akkadian Empire
The Akkadian Empire from circa 2300 BC to 2100 BC. This was the empire created by the conquests of Sargon, the king of Akkad. The land of Akkad and the Akkadian language are actually named after the city. This was a time of big armies that combined troops from many city-states and out-lying kingdoms. Towards the end of the preceeding phase, successful commanders, such as Lugalzagesi of Uruk, had managed to subjugate several rival cities to create a temporary empire. It was Sargon, an inspired commander of obscure origins, who seized power in the city of Kish and went on to vanquish Lugalzagesi and conquer all of Sumer. He founded the city of Akkad (or Agade) after which the land of Akkad is named. In further campaigns he established a widespread empire, extending well beyond Sumer and Akkad. His successors in the Dynasty of Akkad held on to these conquests and expanded the empire despite rebellions. At its furthest extent, the Akkadian Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond into Anatolia. A new name had to be found to describe an imperial king and this was 'Ruler of the Four Quarters'. Efforts were begun to introduce new methods of governing such a wide realm in order to counteract the tendency of cities and tribes to reassert independence at every opportunity. Akkad became a powerful capital, but in due course the empire began to crumble. The Sumerian cities were determined to win their independence. Akkadian governors were ousted in favour of rebel rulers, leading to the need for frequent re-conquest by Akkadian kings. Ultimately it was climate change in the form of increasing aridity in upper Mesopotamia, combined with the incursions of barbarous Gutian tribes from the Zagros Mountains in Iran, which brought down the empire. One notable military development during this phase was the increasing use of the powerful composite bow. ----(6)
Academic account in the following link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41636304?seq=1
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
- 2334 BCE - 2279 BCE
Sargon of Akkad (the Great) reigns over Mesopotamia and thus creates the world's first empire. - 2334 BCE - 2218 BCE
The Akkadian Empire rules Sumer. - c. 2330 BCE
Sargon of Akkad sacks Ur. - c. 2320 BCE
Sargon of Akkad invades the Hattic region, fails to take Hattusa. - 2285 BCE - 2250 BCE
Life of Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and world's first author known by name. - c. 2083 BCE
Fall of Akkad to the Gutians; the end of Akkadian Empire. - c. 2083 BCE - c. 2050 BCE
The Dark Age of Mesopotamia.
The Assyrian Empire (Assyria in short): https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/assyrian-military-the-worlds-first-professional-army.574303/
REFERENCES
(1) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people/reference/king-sargon-akkad/
(2) https://www.ancient.eu/image/1352/map-of-sumer/
(3) https://www.ancient-code.com/ancient-city-kish-first-city-gods-great-flood/
(4) https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2...diers-king-sargon-of-akkads-expanding-empire/
(5) https://www.ancient.eu/image/160/map-of-the-akkadian-empire/
(6) https://www.warlordgames.com/history-sumerian-akkadian-warfare-part-1-military-development/
(7) Grayson, A. K. (1974). The Empire of Sargon of Akkad. Archiv für Orientforschung, 25, 56-64.
