The Akkadian empire existed between approximately 2350 and 2100 BCE. The great Sargon of Akkad was the ruler and head of this empire. The world’s first imperial empire was created by the emperor. His rule and achievements would be a sign of his importance and explain why the empire was so successful. We have been discussing Akkad’s success and his legacy in class. History shows that Akkad was an independent man who was able unite the citizens of the country under one ideology. Before we get into the reign of Akkad as a King, let’s look at some background information about Sargon.

Sargon was the only child of La’ibum. Sargon was eventually abandoned by his families and taken in by King of kish. Here he learned all about becoming a monarch and was soon crowned. Sargon’s campaign began with invasions of Syria and Canaan. Later, he invaded Mesopotamia. In his honour, statues were built along the Mediterranean Sea shores. His empire also included the construction of cities as well as palaces. The empire was also connected by roads, named after Sargon. This is where things get tricky. After Sargon’s reign, we don’t know which style was more influential. Sargon’s empire was managed in four areas: political, military, economic, and religious. Each of these spheres had a significant impact on the empire’s success, with the military the most successful. We actually have scripts of the kings that indicate that the Mesopotamia Gods sanctioned their rule. The paintings depict the Sargonic rulers as commanders-in-chief of the armies. Also, we have evidence that local rulers provided food and accommodation for the kings who set out to conquer the world. It is possible that Sargon was revered for his ability as a ruler, or that the ruler did this to avoid losing his city to passing kings. We have many stories about the adventures and accounts of Sargon’s soldiers. Sargon made sure his soldiers were properly armed. Tactical units were provided with spears as well as bows andarrows. The soldiers received armor whenever it was necessary. The mace, a weapon that was only available to kings, was the special weapon. This weapon was made of stone, wood, and the blade was made of copper or bronze. This information shows that Sargon was very serious about military affairs. Many city rulers were forced to take office, which meant that many of them were not citizens of the empire. Sargon ordered the destruction and quartering soldiers to get citizens to submit goods to the crown, the military, and to pay tribute. Sargon was probably given the land that a king had acquired on his expeditions. Sargon was not afraid to mix politics and military practice. It can be argued that Sargon favored the military because he believed it was the only way to run the empire. Agriculture was a key part of the empire’s success. Records show that people were granted control over certain areas of land or fields. The lands were used as a source of food and for cultivation. Each family shared the labor, risk, and food produced by cultivation. This view shows that Sargon managed his field in a similar way as a village would manage their farms.

The city rulers managed these lands. They signed leases with the owners and paid cash to the city rulers. Sargon and his family members were granted lands. It is not clear if Sargon paid workers fair wages for their labor. Sargon’s legacy is notable in that his policies and rules had an enormous impact on Rimish, his son. Rimish experienced strong revolt from citizens during his first year of rule. He spent many years trying unsuccessfully to end the rebellion. He managed to stop the protest and instil his rule. Following in the footsteps of his father, he considered the military an essential part of an empire’s functioning. He thinks so because he was able to quell an earlier uprising.

His death was tragically too early. After nine years of rule, he died unassisted. Naram Sin was his only true success. His reign saw him expand the empire, increase trade and lead expeditions with his army. Naram had a 36-year rule, second only to Sargon. Unfortunately, he too would be defeated, leaving the empire in the hands of Sha-Kali. He was incapable of controlling the population and had struggled from the start. His biggest problem was his inability to defend his empire from the chaos within. It is still a matter of debate whether his attempts to control other cities were successful. While this is a debateable issue, I would argue Sargon to be a slightly more successful ruler that Naram. Sargon, the first ruler, established the laws that would be followed by other kings. His reign lasted from 50-60years, and he was also the longest-reigning king. He believed in the importance of the military and their role in maintaining order.