Mesopotamia

Writing begins

3500 BCE

Writing begins to be developed. At first this is based on pictograms, and takes about a thousand years to evolve into a full cuneiform script.

First empire

2300 BCE

King Sargon of Akkad starts conquering the first empire in world history. The empire reaches its height in c. 2220.

City of Ur becomes the center

2100 BCE

The city of Ur becomes the centre of a powerful Mesopotamian state. It soon falls into decline. This marks the decline of the Sumerians as the Amorites, a nomadic people, start moving into Mesopotamia.