00:00What was the first empire in history? The title of the first empire in history is often attributed
00:05to the Akkadian Empire, established by Sargon of Akkad around 2334 BCE. The Akkadian Empire
00:13emerged in the Mesopotamian region, which encompasses present-day Iraq and parts of
00:18Syria and Turkey. Sargon is celebrated for his military conquests that unified the Sumerian
00:25city-states of southern Mesopotamia, as well as extending Akkadian control over a vast territory
00:31that included much of Mesopotamia, parts of the Levant, and Anatolia. The Akkadian Empire is
00:38considered the world's first empire because it was the first state to rule over a multi-ethnic,
00:45multicultural population under a centralized government. The empire is known for its
00:51advancements in the arts, administration, and the Akkadian language, which became the
00:57lingua franca of the region for centuries. The Akkadian Empire's influence waned and it eventually
01:03collapsed around 2154 BCE, due to a combination of internal strife, economic difficulties, and
01:11invasions by the Gutians, a people from the Zagros Mountains.
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