Timeline & Main Empires
This timeline shows the main empires in Mesopotamia:
| Period (B.C.) | Empire / Culture | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| ca. 3000–2400 | Sumerian City-States | Irrigation and urban culture, cuneiform writing, competing temple cities, formation of monarchies |
| ca. 2340–2170 | Empire of Akkad | Territorial state founded by Sargon of Akkad: first world empire in history, deification of the king |
| ca. 1900–1595 | Old Babylonian Empire | Hammurabi (1728–1686): unification of Mesopotamia under Babylon, creation of the Code of Hammurabi |
| ca. 1800–1074 | Old and Middle Assyrian Empire | Shamshi-Adad I (1749–1717): transformed the trading city Assur into the capital of an expanding territorial and military state; Babylonian cultural influence |
| ca. 966–600 | Neo-Assyrian Empire | Palaces in Assur and Nineveh; ruthless expansion; conquest of Babylon; Assarhaddon (681–669) invades Egypt |
| ca. 600–539 | Neo-Babylonian Empire | Babylon becomes a world metropolis under Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562); city fortifications and Ishtar Gate |
| after 539 | Persian, Hellenistic, and Parthian Rule | Gradual decline of Babylonian-Mesopotamian culture; disappearance of Akkadian language and cuneiform; rise of Greek cultural influence |