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History of Ancient Sumer

Timelines 5000-1595 B.C.

From Dubsar, the Ancient Sumerian Scribe, for About.com

Dates are very approximate.

Sumerian Developments and Events

5th Millennium beginning 5000

Early development of Sumer
Ubaid Culture

4th Millennium beginning 4000

Protoliterate period - High civilization developing

3rd Millennium beginning 3000

Political & military rivalries
Rival kings & periods of unification includes Early Dynastic [see Tell Asmar Sculpture from the Early Dynastic period], Sargonic, & Ur III periods

2750 - Legendary Gilgamesh rules Uruk, Enmebaragesi & Agga rule Kish

2550 - Mesalim rules Kish

2475 - Ur-Nanshe rules Lagash, Meskalamdug rules Ur, military conflict between Lagash & Umma continues a long time.

2375 - Lugalzagesi of Umma unifies Sumer briefly

2350 - Sargon of Agade defeats Umma & takes over Sumer & Akkad & creates significant political & economic empire
Akkadian Period

2300 - Gutian invasion disrupts unity of Sumer & Akkad

2175 - Gudea rules Lagash

2110 - Ur-Nammu of Ur unifies Sumer & Akkad

2030 - Elamites disrupt unity of Sumer & Akkad

2020 - Ishbi-Erra the Amorite ruler of Isin seeks to rebuild unity in the land

2nd Millennium - 1st Half

Ascendancy of Amorite dynasties of Isin, then Larsa, then Babylon. This period ends with devastating Hittite raid around 1600 B.C.

1795 - Rim-Sin of Larsa defeats Isin & takes over Sumer & Akkad

1760 - Hammurapi (Hammurabi) of Babylon defeats Larsa & takes over Sumer & Akkad

1720 - Shift of Euphrates River & collapse of life at Nippur & some other cities of Sumer

1595 - Hittite raid disrupts unity of Sumer & Akkad

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