INTRODUCTION The land between the rivers went through different forms of government which is understandable considering that

the history of Mesopotamia encompasses almost 3 millenniums. Form of government from the emergence of Sumerian Civilization to Persian Empire did not did not only changed through time but it was also greatly influenced by different patterns of peoples who ruled Mesopotamia. History of Mesopotamia is characterized by frequent invasions and conquests of foreign peoples who established their own forms of government although they often only continued the established forms (w w w .anciv.info/mesopotamia/form-of-government-in-mesopotamia.html).

AKKADIAN - THE FIRST EMPIRE OF THE WORLD Akkadian is regarded as worlds first empire in history . It was founded by King Sargon. The center was city of Akkad and their language was called as Akkadian. The city of Akkad was in Mesopotamia. Timeline of Akkadian Empire King Sargon (2371BC-2315BC) founded and ruled the city-state of Akkad, after he left the city of Kish where he was an important official. He was the first ruler to maintain a standing army. At 2320 BC Sargon conquered the independent city-states of Sumer and instituted a central government. At 2315 BC Rimush, son of Sargon, ruled Akkad. He was assassinated. At 2306 BC Manishtusu, another son of Sargon, took power over Akkad. He died in a palace revolt. During 2291-2254 BC Naram-Sin ruled Akkad. He defeated a rebel coalition in Sumer and re-established Akkadian power. He re-conquered Syria, Lebanon, and the Taurus mountains, destroying Aleppo and Mari in the process. During his reign the Gutians

sacked the city of Agade and eventually destroyed all of Sumer (southern Iraq). During his reign Naram-Sin campaigned against the region of Magan (Oman). During 2254-2230 BC Shar-Kali-Sharri, son of Naram-Sin, ruled Akkad. He fought to preserve the realm but it disintegrated under rebellion and invasion. After 2230 BC Gutians, a tribe from the Zagros region of Iran, gained power in Mesopotamia and Gutian kings dominated the area. Collapse of Akadian Empire and Gutians' reign caused the Mesopotamian Dark Ages. At that time there were little progress in technology and culture. Government in Akkadian King Sargon made battles with Sumerians several times and defeated them. He established the world's first centralized empire. Name of Sargon came from "the king is legitimate". The Akkadian was ruled by a king and his royal court, and the high class of priests. King Sargon's empire was a monarch and aimed ruling rights passed from father to son. Akkadians formed new form of government which became a model for later rulers although priesthood played very important role throughout the history of Mesopotamia. Akkadian kings were classical despots and had an absolute power, while the title was hereditary although usurpers seized the throne and established new ruling dynasties from time to time. Akkadian rulers named themselves Lord of the Four Quarters (of the Earth) and were eventually elevated to the divine status. Unlike in ancient Egypt, the divine status of the Mesopotamian rulers was more of an exception than the rule (w w w .anciv.info/mesopotamia/form-of-government-in-mesopotamia.html). Akkadian state was economic. Sargon and his royal court served as the focal point of all economic activity. Sargon brought vast amounts of wealth to the capital city he also brought a huge number of royal servants and administrators. Thus, Sargon established the first bureaucratic organization in the world. Economy

The population of Akkad, like nearly all pre-modern states, was entirely dependent upon the agricultural systems of the region, which seem to have had two principal centres: the irrigated farmlands of southern Iraq that traditionally had a yield of 30 grains returned for each grain sown and the rain-fed agriculture of northern Iraq, known as "the Upper Country" (Wikipedia). Religion Akkadian kingdom, like most Ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, also embraced a polytheistic religion. Their gods were anthropomorphic, that is, the gods took human form. And because the gods took human form, they also had human qualities: the gods could be foolish, intelligent, shy, humorous, jealous, angry or silly. Among themselves, the gods also had unequal status. The gods were derived from the world of nature for the simple reason that life in Mesopotamia was controlled or conditioned by the seasons. Theirs was a world of nature and in order to understand nature, the Mesopotamians gave human shape to the forces of nature. So, we encounter An, the sky god, Enlil, the god of air, Nanna, the moon god and Utu, the sun god. The Mesopotamians believed these gods were responsible for creating the universe and everything it contained, including humankind. The gods were also responsible for the smooth running of that world. The gods ruled the world of men through their earthly representatives, and in the case of the Akkadian kingdom, this meant Sargon. Hopefully, you can already notice the decreased status of the temple priests at Akkad. Although they still exist, and continue to serve a vital role, the mediator between the gods and ordinary men and women, is now Sargon. Men and Akkadian kingdom, like most Ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, also embraced a polytheistic religion. Their gods were anthropomorphic, that is, the gods took human form. And because the gods took human form, they also had human qualities: the gods could be foolish, intelligent, shy, humorous, jealous, angry or silly. Among themselves, the gods also had unequal status. The gods were derived from the world of nature for the simple reason that life in Mesopotamia was controlled or conditioned by the seasons. Theirs was a world of nature and in order to understand nature, the Mesopotamians gave human shape to the forces of nature. So, we encounter An, the sky god, Enlil, the god of air, Nanna, the moon god and Utu, the sun god. The Mesopotamians believed these gods were responsible for creating the universe and everything it contained, including humankind. The gods were also responsible for the smooth running of that world. The gods ruled the world of men through their earthly representatives, and in the case of the Akkadian kingdom, this meant Sargon. Hopefully, you can already notice

the decreased status of the temple priests at Akkad. Although they still exist, and continue to serve a vital role, the mediator between the gods and ordinary men and women, is now Sargon ( www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture4b.html).

BABYLONIA- THE ECONOMIC GENIUS Babylonia, named for the city of Babylon, was an ancient state in Mesopotamia and combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. Its capital was Babylon. Government in Babylonia Babylonian kings also retained centralized administration introduced during the Akkadian Period, while the famous Code of Hammurabi indicates that the Babylonian kings had supreme legislative and jurisdictional authority ( w w w .anciv.info/mesopotamia/form-of-government-in-mesopotamia.html).