Aliana's+research+summary+pages



**Climate and Geographic Factors -**Climate of Northwestern Mesopotamia was semi arid with strong seasonality in both precipitation and temperature -Winters in Akkad were cold and wet and generally accumulated 100-300 mm of precipitation a year -Summers in Akkad were hot, very dry -Nobody actually knows why this empire collapsed but there are many theories -Akkadian collapse was previously attributed to human factors including invaders and political disintegration -One theory of Akkadian collapse is that Akkadians might have been the first example of social collapse related to external or internal social factors -Another theory is that Akkadian Empire was beset by a 300 year drought -Archaeologists have reason to believe a shift to more arid conditions caused this empire to collapse -Marine sediment establishes direct link between Mesoptamia aridification and social collapse -Sudden shift to more arid conditions key factor contributing to collapse of Akkadian Empire



-**The 4 rulers after Sargon were Rimush, Manishtusu, Naram-Sin and Shar-Kali-Sharri who all together ruled for 147 years -During latter part of Sargon's reign empire suffered from waves of revolts -In 2215BC Sargon died after ruling 55 years and expanding empire over the fertile crescent from the Meditteranean Sea to the Arabian Gulf -Naram-Sin grandson of Sargon put down multitudes of revolts like the "Elamite Uprising" -Reports were left by Manishtusu, Naram-Sin and Shar-Kali-Sharri, speaking of many rebellions and victorious battles
 * Events and Leaders

-Important to the success of thea Akkadian was the fertile, rain fed agriculture production -Akkadians imperialized agriculture production and contolled long distance trade -The highly urbanized city-states depended on intensive,state managed irrigation agriculture -Archaeological investigations at Tell Leilan in North East Syria have suggested that a major environmental change associated with Akkadian collapse -The unification of Sumer and Akkad gave King Sargon access to huge potential wealth mainly in the form of crops -There was a broad production of emmer, durum and barley, later on Akkadians brought their barley-rationing system to the North -Akkadians dominated with a focus on barley monocultures, which was more efficient -The reliance on the barley crop became increasingly dangerous as climate became more arid -Akkadia remained vulnerable to pressure from nomadic pastoralists and hunter-gatherers under the rule of Naram-Sin -Pastoralists and hunter-gatherers threatened rich fertile land -Tell Leilan one of three major city-states in North East Syria was a privincial capital and primary provider of imperialized cereal production
 * Agriculture and the Economy**


 * Science and Mathematical Contribution**
 * -A**kkadians used a sexagesimal numbering system, the basis of our division of the hour and minute into 60 units.



- Ideology and power of the empire was reflected in art -Emphasis on naturalism manifested in masterpieces of stone sculpture -Akkadian seals preserve iconography illustrates interactions between man and the world -Ideology and power reflected in art -Akkadian art has produced some of the most beautiful specimens of gemcutter's art ever discovered -Akkadian art centered around the rulers -Art included war portrayals, engravings of mythological figures on precious stones -Carvings included life size bronze heads of kings, and a six foot tall sculpture of King Naram-Sin -Akkadian perfected the "seal cutter" craft
 * Art, Literature and Music**


 * Transportation and Weaponry**

-First wheeled vehicles used by the Akkadians were four wheeled chariots driven by horses -Bows were used and could have a range of 250-650 meters depending on the type -Types of bows included simple and composite -Arrows were used to drive back and kill enemies -Akkadian armies had a combination of spears and missile weapons -Swords were made of bronze