The world’s first empire arose around 2340 B.C.E. when Sargon, a warrior from the city of Akkad, conquered all of the independent city-states of Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq). However, Sargon’s Akkadian Empire lasted only a short time. Scholars have proposed three explanations for why the Akkadian Empire did not last very long.
First, rebellions of the conquered city-states were a serious threat to the unity of the empire. The conquered city-states were forced to provide Sargon’s central imperial government with expensive services and tributes (for example, a quantity of gold every year). Many of the city-states wanted to be free of these obligations and rebelled against the imperial government. Frequent rebellions could have weakened the imperial government and could have eventually led to a breakup of the empire.
Second, the empire may have experienced serious problems with food supply. For a long time, the northern region of the empire, where agricultural conditions were excellent, was used as a source of food for the rest of the empire. However, at a certain point, the north suffered from an extended period of too little rainfall. The worsened farming conditions may have seriously affected the food supply chain and brought down the whole empire.
Third, the Akkadian Empire traded with countries and kingdoms outside Mesopotamia for many important materials, such as metals, wood, or precious stones. However, the Akkadian Empire often tried to use its strength to dominate the trade relationships and impose its own conditions on trade. This naturally met with resistance; it is reported, for example, that thirty-two foreign kings united to fight a sea battle against the Akkadians. Such resistance may have caused enough damage to the Akkadians’ trade economy to cause the empire’s downfall.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose the specific points made in the reading passage.
In the lecture, the professor casts doubt on the reading passage’s idea that the Akkadian Empire collapsed due to rebellions, food shortages, and trade disruptions. The professor asserts that these explanations are not convincing, as the empire had strong military control, advanced agricultural techniques, and adaptable trade strategies.
Firstly, the passage claims that frequent rebellions of the conquered city-states weakened the Akkadian Empire and led to its downfall. By contrast, the professor asserts that these rebellions were unlikely to have had a significant impact. When Sargon initially conquered the city-states, he ordered their defensive walls to be destroyed. Without fortified cities, the rebels had no stronghold from which to resist, making it easy for the imperial army to suppress uprisings quickly and effectively.
Secondly, the author of the passage points out that a prolonged period of low rainfall in the northern region led to a serious food shortage, which contributed to the empire’s collapse. However, the lecture notes that the Akkadians had advanced agricultural technologies, such as irrigation systems that allowed them to transport water over long distances and grain storage techniques that preserved food for extended periods. These innovations would have enabled them to maintain food supplies even during extended droughts.
Lastly, the reading states that the empire’s aggressive trade policies led to economic decline, as foreign rulers united against the Akkadians and disrupted their access to essential resources. On the contrary, the professor contends that the Akkadians were highly adaptable traders who continuously sought new partners. They established trade routes as far east as the Indian subcontinent and as far west as the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring a steady supply of necessary resources despite occasional conflicts with specific trading partners.
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