What do you know about the Akkadian civilization?

Question

When did the Akkadian civilization exist? Where was the land of Akkadia located? What else can you tell me about the Akkadians?

I am really wanting to learn about the history of this world, and Saudi Arabia is a place that I want to learn about first. I will be moving onto the rest of the Middle East, and then to Africa afterwards. Thanks for answering!

Answer 1

The name "Akkadian" is not from some land of "Akkadia". It is from the name of a city called "Akkad" or "Agade", located in central Mesopotamia, north of ancient "Sumer" (a number of city-states in Southern Mesopotamia, near the Euphrates River). [modern day Iraq]

This city became the center of the first Semitic-speaking empires of Mesopotamia. It rose to greatness under "Sharruken" -- which comes to us as "Sargon" around 2300 B.C. (This last is the Greek form of the name which was later used by an Assyrian king.).

Other cities of this civilization later rose to prominence, best known of which was Babylon.

Note that the ancient Semitic language of this region (rediscovered by 19th century archaeologists) is now commonly called "Akkadian", though "Assyro-Babylonian" would also be appropriate.

For more info, you might start with the following:
http://lexicorient.com/e.o/akkad.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkad
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0802950.html