Map of the Akkadian Empire, c. 2334 - 2218 BCE

Illustration

by Simeon Netchev
published on 23 March 2022

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Map of the Akkadian Empire, c. 2334 - 2218 BCE — This map illustrates the rise and expansion of the Akkadian Empire, the first known empire in world history, emerging in Mesopotamia around the twenty-fourth century BCE. Originating from the city-state of Akkad, the empire under Sargon the Great (reigned circa 2334 - 2279 BCE) brought together the once-fragmented Sumerian city-states into a centralized imperial structure.

The Akkadian Empire (circa 2334 - 2218 BCE), reaching its height under Sargon and his grandson Naram-Sin (reigned circa 2254 - 2218 BCE). It stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Taurus Mountains and western Iran, encompassing much of the Fertile Crescent. By around 2200 BCE, however, the empire began to fragment due to internal rebellion, external invasions (notably by the Gutians), and prolonged climate instability, ultimately collapsing by the mid-twenty-second century BCE, marking the end of an era in early state formation and imperial governance.

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About the Author

Simeon Netchev

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

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Uploaded by Simeon Netchev, published on 23 March 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs. This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.

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External Links

The Akkadian Period (ca. 2350–2150 B.C.) | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

metmuseum.org

Cite This Work

APA Style

Netchev, S. (2022, March 23). Map of the Akkadian Empire, c. 2334 - 2218 BCE. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15457/map-of-the-akkadian-empire-c-2334---2218-bce/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Akkadian Empire, c. 2334 - 2218 BCE." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 23, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15457/map-of-the-akkadian-empire-c-2334---2218-bce/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Akkadian Empire, c. 2334 - 2218 BCE." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 23 Mar 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15457/map-of-the-akkadian-empire-c-2334---2218-bce/. Web. 07 Jul 2025.