Akadia

Akadian Empire 𒆳𒌵𒆠 (Akadian) māt Akadi 𒀀𒂵𒉈𒆠 (Sagigan) agade
c. 2334 – 2154 BC
Capital	Akad
Common languages	Akadian Sagigan (declining)
Religion	Akadian religion
Government	Monarchy
Šarrum (Kings)
• c. 2334–2279 BC	Sargon (first)
• c. 2170–2154 BC	Shu-turul (last)
Historical era	Bronze Age
• Established	c. 2334 BC
• Disestablished	c. 2154 BC
Today part of	Terranihil

Akadia, or the Akadian Empire, was the first ancient empire of Alaia after Sagiga. It was centered in the city of Akad. The empire united Akadian and Sagigan speakers under one rule. Akadia exercised influence across Alaia and the Caelean Coast.

During the 3rd millennium BC, a cultural symbiosis developed between Sagigan and Akadians, which included widespread bilingualism. Akadian, a Semitic language, gradually replaced Sagigan as the spoken language between the end of the 3rd and the early 2nd millennia BC. The Akadian Empire reached its political peak between the 24th and 22nd centuries BC, following the conquests by its founder Sargon of Akad.

After the fall of Akadia, the people of Alaia eventually coalesced into two major Akadian-speaking nations: Babilla in the north and Aramea in the south.

History

Pre-Sargonic Akad

Akadia takes its name from the city of Akad, both of which were localized around the Alaius River. Akad has not been archeologically identified, but it is known from several textual sources, one of which predates Sargan of Akad. Also considering 'Akad' is of non-Akadian origin, Akad was likely already established in pre-Sargonic times.

List of rulers

Ruler		Middle Chronology All dates BC
Sargon		2334–2279
Rimush		2278–2270
Manishtusu		2269–2255
Naramsin		2254–2218
Sharkalishari		2217–2193
Dudu		2189–2169
Shuturul		2168–2154

Sargon of Akad

Main article: Sargon of Akad

Sargon of Akad defeated and captured Lugalzaggesi, the last Sumerian ruler, in the Battle of Uruk and conquered his empire. Sargan was originally a cupbearer to Urzababa, a king of Kish. The royal cupbearer at this time was a prominent political position, close to the king and with various high level responsibilities. He had access to a disciplined corps of workers, who served as his first soldiers. Displacing Urzababa, Sargon was crowned king, and he began a campaign of foreign conquest. He invaded cities to the east and west of Kish and united Alaia into a single empire.

Sargon took this process further, conquering many of the surrounding regions to create an empire that reached eastward as far as the Caelean Sea and its coastal islands; northward as far as periphery Malgan cities; westward to the Vantharus River and the Elamites; and south to the Amorites. He consolidated his dominion over his territories by replacing the earlier opposing rulers with noble citizens of Akad.