The Akkadian Empire: A Captivating Guide to the First Ancient Empire of Mesopotamia and How Sargon the Great of Akkad Conquered the Sumerian City-States

by Captivating History

Was the first empire really started by an abandoned orphan who rose to greatness?

Was there an empire older and more important than mighty Egypt? There were a few, but the Akkadian Empire, born out of the cradle of civilization, is thought to be the first. And it was a game-changer. Its creation inspired conquerors and other empire-builders throughout history and spawned two world powers. Its epics, legends, and beliefs influence religions and cultures even today—and make for some darn good reading.

Known mostly through clay tablets and stelae, the truth about the Akkadian Empire has intrigued and at times eluded scholars and historians. Victory reliefs made grandiose claims, and propaganda was rampant. Legendary poems countered cautionary tales about arrogance and oppression. We will discuss the men who ruled the empire and the legends that define what we know about them.

Some of the treasures you’ll discover about the Akkadian Empire the Sumerians were an important part of the empireThe grand wealth and cruelty that accompanied Queen Puabi to her graveHow the first empire-builder the world has ever known rose up from mysterious and legendary originsWhat made Sargon so great?How an empire made up of city-states wanting independence was constantly on the verge of breaking apartThe epic adventures of Gilgamesh—how he slew a forest monster and the tragic consequences for earning the wrath of the godsHow did Naram-sin achieve god-like status?The “naru” legends of Naram-sin’s downfallThe possible identity of a mysterious figure that has eluded historians for centuriesWhat person was the inspiration for the constellation Orion?How climate change may have played a part in ending the empireStunning pictures of invaluable archaeological finds
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Genres: History

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 28, 2022

Reviews

[Leah E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the strongest aspects of this book is how it was written as a cohesive narrative that doesn’t read like a historical textbook. At least for the majority of the story. Towards chapter 8 when it seems that sources on the subject start to thin out it does get harder to focus on the material.
However, I really enjoyed reading this. I am a history major so I’ve already studied most of the content in more depth, but I can appreciate the quick overview of this civilization.
I will say that this is an excellent short rendition of some of the most important ancient history that literally shaped the majority of Abrahamic religions. If you are looking for the true history of the myths depicted in the Torah and Bible then this is a great source.
I do wish that there were maps included to depict the areas talked about because I feel like most people don’t have a general understanding of these geographical locations.

[Jeannine Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

I enjoyed this book very much - I chose it because of a Bible study in which I and my friends are taking part. This book is more of an overview and not in depth study of these past civilizations - and that is its main appeal to me - history is not my field of study so I appreciate the precis that this book is

[Bob Beatty]

Concise and entertaining

Nice how this relates the Akkadian empire to the Biblical era for context and evidence. This is a quick read that gives the baseline of the first societies.

[Mihai Pop · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too much of a guide, and too schematic. Probably good as an introduction, but to me, it left too much to desire for.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about ancient history and culture, and this was a good one! I feel like the Akkadians are one of the lesser known groups to have ruled Mesopotamia. Even in school, I feel like this one was brushed over a bit. Nevertheless, I liked the breakdown of the rise and fall of the Akkadians, the discussion on prominent rulers, and the Akkadian contributions to religion, economy, and the arts. Though the names and pronunciations are daunting, it was an easy read!