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Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Biography
The Ancient Near East
Sargon I
c. 2330 BC
a great king who used his leadership skills
to unite Sumerians and become ruler of the
world’s first empire. To achieve this, Sargon
formed an organized army, which was the
beginning of the Mesopotamia military.
As you read the biography below, think about how
Sargon’s actions shaped history.
Sargon reigned from about 2334 to 2279 BC.
Historians do not know the details of Sargon’s
childhood, early life, or the steps he took to establish his empire. However,
historical documents indicate that an Akkadian ruler named Sargon took
over Sumerian territory.
The city of Akkad was located north of Sumer along the Euphrates
River. As ruler of Akkad, Sargon formed the world’s first permanent army.
It is thought that at this time, Sargon named himself Sharrum-kin, which
translates to “the rightful king” in Akkadian. Sargon might have given
himself this name because he had not inherited the throne and wanted to be
accepted by the people. He strengthened his power by granting gifts of land
to his followers.
Sargon and his soldiers took over all of Mesopotamia (including parts of
present-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey) and Elam (present-day Iran). Sargon
also conquered territories from Akkad west to the Mediterranean and north
to the Black Sea. Sargon had created the world’s first empire—the
Akkadian Empire.
The control of Mesopotamia gave Sargon command of major shipping
and trade routes that followed the Euphrates River. Control of these routes
allowed him to oversee the transportation of goods from faraway places—
such as the Persian Gulf, Lebanon, and Crete—to Akkad.
Prior to Sargon, rulers had spoken Sumerian, but Sargon spoke
Akkadian. This is the oldest Semitic language that is still preserved today.
Sumerians had used the cuneiform system of writing. This consisted of
ancient wedge-shaped symbols written on clay tablets. Sargon adapted
Akkadian to the cuneiform system of writing as well.
The Akkadian Empire did not last long. Shortly after Sargon died, the
empire came to an end.
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 2
5
The Ancient Near East
Scala/Art Resource
WHY HE MADE HISTORY Sargon was
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Biography
The Ancient Near East
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Recall What lands made up the Akkadian Empire?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Express and Support a Point of View What might have been Sargon’s reasons for
naming himself Sharrum-kin? Provide reasons or examples to support your point of
view.
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ACTIVITY
Write an entry for an encyclopedia that explains how Sargon’s empire
differed from earlier civilizations in Mesopotamia. Write your entry on a
separate sheet of paper.
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 2
6
The Ancient Near East