Rise of Akkadian Empire

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Rise of Akkadian Empire

• Lived North of Sumer

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Empire

• They were not sumerians
• Spoke their own language
• Sumerians and Akkadians lived in peace for many
  years
• Peace was broken in 2300 BC when Sargon wanted to
  extend his territory.

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Continued

• Sargons soldiers defeated all city-states of
  Sumer.
• Sargon finally established an empire.
• Empire stretched from Persian Gulf to
  Mediterranean Sea.
• Sargon ruled for 50 years.
• Rulers after Sargon failed because they could not
  keep the empire safe from invaders.

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Religion

• Religion plays role in public and private life.
• Sumerian Religion practiced polytheism

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Gods

• Enlil- Lord of the air
• Enki- god of wisdom
• Inanna- god of love and war
• Utu- God of sun
• Nanna- God of Moon
• Sumerians believed that gods would bring good
  harvest or disastrous floods. They could bring
  illness or health and wealth.

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Picture of Enlil

• Lord of the Air

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Religion

• Every Sumerian had a duty to serve and worship
  the gods
• Priests- people who performed religious
  ceremonies.
• People relied on them to interpret the gods
  wishes and made offerings to them.
• Offerings were made in temples.

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Wnki- God of Wisdom
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Sumerian Social Order

• Priests were just below kings
• Kings claimed that they were chosen by gods to
  rule
• Below Priests were merchants, craftspeople, and
  traders. Trade was very popular and had a big
  impact.
• Traders traveled to far away places to exchange
  grain for gold, silver, copper, lumber, and
  precious stones.

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Hierarchy

• Below traders were farmers and laborers. These
  people were the working class. Slaves were at
  the bottom of the social order.

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Men and Women

• Men held political power and made laws.
• Women took care of the home and children.
• Education was for men but some upper class women
  were educated.
• Educated women were priestesses in Sumers
  temples.
• Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon wrote hymns to the
  goddess Inanna. She is the first female writer
  in history.

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Questions

• Why do you think priests were so influential in
  ancient Sumerian society?
• How does their social structure relate to ours?
  How does it differ?