Rulers of the Ancient Near East

Sargon

2340 BCE

Sargon was the Akkadian leader who overran the Sumerian city-states. Sargon then established the first empire in world history. His power is based on his military of 5,400 men.

Naram-Sin

2260 BCE

Naram-Sin continued his grandfather's empire. He also carried out numerous military campaigns. Because of his success from his military he called himself the "King of the Four Corners of the Universe" and declared himself a god.

Naram-Sin's End

2223 BCE

After prosperous years of his military and his leadership his reign ended. Soon after his reign neighbors began to attack the Akkadian empire and it fell in 2150 bc.

Hammurabi

1792 BCE

Hammurabi was a king from Babylon. Hammurabi had a well disciplined and trained army. He learned how to divide his opponents and subdue them. With such tactics he gained control of Sumer and Akkad.

Hammurabi's End

1750 BCE

Hammurabi died, but that was not the end of his legacy. Once he died weal kings followed causing the empire to fall into the hands of invaders. Even after death Hammurabi left a collection of laws called The Code of Hammurabi. So for many empires to come they used The Code of Hammurabi.

Ahmose I

1550 BCE

He managed to expel the Hyksos from Egypt and establish the New Kingdom. He set the Egyptians on a new militaristic path with a more professional army.

Thutmosis I

1493 BCE

He expanded the borders of Egypt to the south. He did this by conquering the African kingdom of Nubia. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thutmose-I)

Thutmosis III

1479 BCE

He led 17 military campaigns into Canaan and Syria. He even reached as far east as the Euphrates River. He had his forces occupy Canaan but allowed locals to rule. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thutmose-III)

Hatshepsut

1473 BCE

During her rule she sent military expeditions, encouraged mining, and trading up the Nile. Some statues of her show her with a beard and clothed like a man. She was also addressed as "His Majesty". (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hatshepsut)

Amenhotep III

1412 BCE

The empire reached its heights during his rule. This was shown through the great buildings including temples and other buildings. The especially famous temples were at Karnak and Luxor. The temples along the Nile had 70 foot high statues of himself, Amenhotep III.

Amenhotep IV

1353 BCE

He was a religious ruler. He introduced the worship of Aten. Aten is the sole god and the god of the sun disk. Amenhotep IV was so obsessed that he even closed the temples to other gods. Soon after he changed his name to Akhenaten meaning "Servant of Aten" and made the new capitol Akhenaten (Horizon of Aten). (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Akhenaten)

Ramses II

1279 BCE

During his rule the Egyptians went back onto the offensive. Egyptians regained the control of Canaan. They were unable to reestablish the borders of their earlier empire.

Ramses II End

1213 BCE

Soon after the end of his rule the New Kingdom experienced invasions of the "Sea Peoples". They drove the Egyptians out of Canaan and pushed them back to their old frontiers.

Nebuchadnezzar II

605 BCE

He rebuilt Babylon making it the center of his empire. It gave it the reputation of one of the greatest cities in the ancient world. It was most known for the Hanging Gardens which is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Quickly as it began it fell to the Persians in 539 bc. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nebuchadnezzar-II)

Cyrus

559 BCE

Cyrus created a powerful Persian state that stretched all the way from the Asia Minor to India. He was the one to capture Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar II ruled. He showed compassion, restraint, and wisdom, and he allowed the Jews to return home from their exile in Babylon.

Cyrus' End

530 BCE

At the end of his rule his successors wanted to grow their territory. His son Cambyses successfully invaded Egypt.

Darius

521 BCE

Darius divided the Persian empire into 20 provinces called satrapies. A governor ruled each province and collected taxes, provided justice, and recruited soldiers. Communication was efficient for the Persians as they had well maintained roads.

Darius' End

486 BCE

Darius' rule ended. After his rule ended kings after him were isolated and were surrounded by luxuries. As the kings increased taxes, loyalty to the empire decreased. Struggles for the throne weakened the empire.

Artaxerxes II

404 BCE

Persian kings after Darius were polygamous. Polygamous meaning having many wives. An example would be the king Artaxerxes II. He had in total 115 sons. They had little power which led to plots to gain the throne.
(https://www.britannica.com/biography/Artaxerxes-II)

Cleopatra VII

51 BCE

She attempted to reestablish the Egyptian independence. Due to her involvement with Rome she was defeated and committed suicide. Egypt then became a province in Rome. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cleopatra-queen-of-Egypt)