History of Ancient Sumer

Dates are very approximate.

Sumerian Developments and Events

5th Millennium beginning 5000 (Also see Sumer - 4000-1000 B.C.)

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

Mesopotamian Kings Lists

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. Sargon tries to unite the area cults and makes his daughter Enheduanna the priestess/wife of the moon god Nanna. Enheduanna is the first known and named author.
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