-
The Sumerians were dominant in the third millenium BC. Independent cities were ruled by high priests in this period.
-
In about 2330 BC Akkadian King Sargon I conquered Sumer and founded the Akkadian Empire.
-
The city of Babylon, ruled by Hammurabi, became dominant in about 1800 BC.
-
Between 1356 BC and 612 BC, the Assyrians dominated Mesopotamia. They created the Assyrian Empire. Ashurbanipal, their last great king, conquered many territories.