The Akkadian Empire was an ancient Semitic empire centered in the city of Akkad, which united all the indigenous Akkadian speaking Semites and Sumerian speakers under one rule. The Empire controlled Mesopotamia, the Levant, and parts of Iran. Akkad is sometimes regarded as the first empire in history.

What did the Akkadian and Sumerian cultures share? They worshiped the same gods and goddesses. Why did the Akkadian Empire weaken under the leadership of kings after Sargon? Later kings found it difficult to rule such a large territory.

The Akkadians lived in northern Mesopotamia while the Sumerians lived in the south. They had a similar government and culture as the Sumerians, but spoke a different language. Over time, the Akkadian rulers began to see the advantage of uniting many of their cities under a single nation.

What did the city-states of Sumer and Akkad have in common? They were built along rivers. What geographic features bordered Sargon’s Akkadian Empire?

The Akkadian Empire (/əˈkeɪdiən/) was the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia after the long-lived civilization of Sumer. It was centered in the city of Akkad /ˈækæd/ and its surrounding region. The empire united Akkadian (Assyrian and Babylonian) and Sumerian speakers under one rule.

Empires and dynasties

The Akkadians were a group of Semitic people who lived on the Arabian Peninsula between Egypt and Mesopotamia . As the population expanded the group moved north and began conflicts with the Sumerians. Eventually, lead by Sargon, the Akkadians conquered Sumer in 2340 BC and filled the land as far away as Lebanon .

Officially, there are no empires now, only 190-plus nation-states. Moreover, many of today’s most important states are still recognizably the progeny of empires.

Imperial Japan became the only non-Western world power and a major force in East Asia in about 25 years as a result of industrialization and economic development.

The Japanese became wealthy because they were able to adapt their social, economic, and educational systems posed by the challenges by the West. They also had the benefit of watching their neighbor China get all bloodied in the Opium Wars and learn from the Chinese’s mistake.