Twelve thousand years ago, humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture-based societies. Humans began to settle in ever larger communities, and gradually created civilizations. Neolithic villages began to flourish in Mesopotamia after 6000 B.C.E., due to its rich soil and water sources (Tigris and Euphrates rivers). The first of the civilizations that developed was the Sumerian. Many other civilizations would follow, including the Akkadian city-states, which would form to the north of the Sumerians.
According to Akkadian legend, a woman of Akkad became pregnant, carrying the illegitimate child of a temple priest. Unable to keep the child, she was forced to set her son adrift in a basket on the Euphrates River, where he was later found by a man named Akki, a gardener for Ur-Zababa, the King of the Sumerian city of Kish.1
This child would come to be Sargon of Akkad (Sargon the Great). He would grow to one day usurp the kingship of his own city of Agade, which would come to be the capital of his empire. After developing his Akkadian city of Agade and building a strong military, after 2350 B.C.E., he began to conquer. Many city-states located around Mesopotamia were involved in trading and attempting to aid one another, which often led to conflicts and war. Sargon used his army to bring these small conflicts to an end by conquering each Sumerian city-state one by one. He was viewed as a talented administrator and brilliant warrior. Sargon was wise in going on the offensive against the Sumerian city-states, conquering each, destroying all their defensive walls, as well as any enemy who stood before him. His empire is thought to have included most of Mesopotamia and parts of the Levant, besides incursions into Hurrite and Elamite territory, making him the founder of the Old Akkadian Dynasty as well as the first Mesopotamian Empire. The Old Akkadian Dynasty ruled for about a century after his death, until the Gutian conquest of Sumer. Historians believe that the Gutians were tribes of mountain people who, combined with the revolting people of the various conquered cities, were responsible for the downfall of the Akkadian Empire around 2150 B.C.E. .2
As the first emperor in history, Sargon of Akkad had much success. Despite having no prior example to follow, he was able to take over and maintain Mesopotamia for over fifty years. He financed his empire by seizing control of trade routes, taking all goods that crossed through his realm. This allowed his capital of Akkad (or Agade) to become the wealthiest and most powerful city in the world. He was able to maintain his empire by placing his best and most trusted men in positions of power in various cities. They would be appointed by Sargon himself to serve as governors and administrators in over 65 different cities. These leaders were referred to as the “Citizens of Akkad” in later Babylonian texts. Anytime Sargon took over a city, it rapidly became an Akkadian stronghold, full of Akkadian officials and troops.3 This stability throughout the empire allowed the construction of roads, a wider influence of trade, improved irrigation, as well as developments in arts and in science. Sargon standardized weights and measures for trade and daily commerce. He also managed to initiate a system of taxation and created the first postal system.
These various improvements to the lives of the people of Mesopotamia were not enough to prevent the various conquered peoples from gathering to rebel against Sargon and his administration. Being forced to stay under the rule of an emperor who defeated various groups, taking their land and goods, fueled the people to rebel. By 2150 B.C.E., the Akkadian Empire had collapsed in the midst of rebellion from within and from outside invaders attempting to take the fertile land of Mesopotamia. The story of Sargon loosing his empire to inside rebellion is only one of many. When a group of conquered people are forced to live under another’s rule, it is common for them to look for ways to strike back, overthrow those kings who often attempt to rule them well. Later rulers would improve Sargon’s administrative techniques by relying on centralized bureaucratic rule and regular taxation.4
Sargon created the very first political entity on a large scale and set the standards for all future rulers of empires. Through his unique upbringing, never meeting or knowing his parents, he was able to rise to power. Initially he was nothing but the king’s cupbearer (a butler); none expected that he would one day come to conquer and maintain the land wanted by all. Sargon of Akkad would become the topic of legendary narratives in later Assyrian and Babylonian literature, focusing on his rise to power from humble origins and his conquest of Mesopotamia. These memories of his successful deeds would later inspire conquerors to follow his example and would provide all the future people of Mesopotamia with a powerful hero to idolize.
- Ancient History Encyclopedia, September 2009, s.v. “Sargon of Akkad,” by Joshua J. Mark. ↵
- Ancient History Encyclopedia, September 2009, s.v. “Sargon of Akkad,” by Joshua J. Mark. ↵
- W. F. Albright, “A Babylonian Geographical Treatise on Sargon of Akkad’s Empire,” Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 45 (1905): 193-201. ↵
- The Macmillan Encyclopedia, 2003, s.v. “Sargon of Akkad,” by Alan Isaacs. ↵
51 comments
Alexis Soto
This was an enjoyable reading. I have heard of Sargon before but I never bothered to learn more about this historical figure. From the reading I could not help but find similarities to the Bible with Sargon having been let go by his mother and left to drift in a river. Other stories such as the great flood from Ancient Mesopotamia pre-date Christian beliefs so this did not seem to surprising.
Gabriela Medrano
It is so unbelievable that the first emperor of the world was delivered through a basket. The story was all too familiar and it finally clicked, Moses. Nice way to grab a readers attention. Talk about great tactics and strategies he fought all the way through! I can see why people would rebel, however, he was accomplishing great things under his rule and making his empire a better place to live. Argon and has reign had a positive influence on many and was an inspirational fellow. Nice work!
Aaron Jaramillo
This was such an interesting and amazing article Eric. It really shows you can start out at the bottom and can emerge to become great. As the first emperor he was doing it blind. He had no one to follow and guide him to do the tasks he wanted to do. His tale is truly a great one. Again, Good job Eric.
Mario Sosa
It is pretty astonishing how Sargon implemented several modern ideas such as taxes and a postal system to his people. With Sargon’s amazing ability to conquer and take control of territory, it would not surprise me if future conquerors such as Alexander the Great would look up to Sargon as a sort of role model. This article is well organized and descriptive, very well done.
Sam Vandenbrink
Talk about coming from nothing, to being the worlds first emperor, great article very informative I haven’t read about Sargon in years and it was neat to have the information about him refreshed in my head. Someone has to truly have leadership blowing through there veins to go from floating down a river being abandoned as a baby to making it to be a super power in his society. All the work he put in with the people to have the empire torn apart from inside rebellion must have been hard for him as a leader.
Hayden Hollinger
It was cool to read that someone who was illegitimate would then grow up to be “Sargon the Great” and he would be the leader of his own empire despite his tough start. I enjoyed reading about Sargon’s tactics and the ways he was viewed by his people. It was interesting to read that he was successful and enjoyed a long spell as emperor despite having nothing to base himself on!
Zaraly Frasquillo
Hello Erick! I really liked your article at the beginning it reminded me a lot of the story of Moses. When Moses was a baby his mother put him in a basket and in the Nile River he went because at the time all Hebrew boys were a threat to the Pharoah. But setting that aside, I really felt like you did a great job telling the story of Sargon of Akkad. I had never heard of him so thank you for teaching me something new. ?
Faisal Alqarni
Hi Eric, I like your story, it is a very great story about the leadership of the Neolithic times, Sargon’s story it kind of reminds me of the story of Moses from the old testament. I had never heard of this Saragon of Akkad. Am amazed at how long some of this dynasties ruled for like the Old Akkadian one that ruled 100 years it is just amazing. However, I am a bit doubting about the title first emperor because much of the world by then was still a secret and Sargon’s empire from your writing did not go so far so how was it that he is said to be the first empire? Despite my doubts there is no denying that Sargon was a pioneer o many great things that they live on to this day like the formal political system, taxation and a postal system as well as the practice of centralized administration.
Steven Clinton
Interesting article. It’s amazing to see the world’s first emperor wasn’t even legitimate. The world truly does work in strange ways. Sargon, The Akkad rise to power must show the what being in the right place and the right time is all about. This article is a very particular topic so you must have done some quality research. Splendid work! I hope for better next time.
Nicolas McKay
This was such an amazing article. Who would have thought an orphan in a river and a mere servant of the king could have possessed such an amazing destiny. And as history’s first emperor, he had no one else to base his ambitions on, no one else had ever done what he sought to do. His story is truly fascinating and it is a shame that it is not more commonly taught. I had never heard of Argon before, but now I would certainly like to learn more about him. Well done on your article.