c. 2150 BCEReputable source · 2 sourcesDebated
The Fall of Akkad
On the timeline · around c. 2150 BCE ·
What happened
After about 150 years, the Akkadian Empire collapsed. Invading Gutians from the Zagros Mountains, combined — many scholars argue — with a severe drought, brought down the world's first empire.
Why it matters
Its fall showed how fragile even a great empire could be, and the memory of Akkad's rise and ruin haunted Mesopotamian literature for centuries.
How we know
The exact causes are debated: the Gutian invasion is documented, while the role and severity of climate change (a prolonged drought) is supported by some evidence but still argued over.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Gutians · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Akkadian Empire · Reputable source