-
Akkad was the first true empire. It was founded by Sargon the Great, who unified Mesopotamian city-states and became a monocratic ruler. It was a martial empire, and the art was generally martial. The art of this time began to depict historical events. Style-wise, it became more realistic and naturalistic than the art that proceeded it. Akkadian art uses bas-relief as well as metallurgy that built upon techniques used by the earlier Sumerian civilization.