Part 2/8:
In the ancient land of Mesopotamia, various city-states thrived under the influence of two primary ethnic groups: the Sumerians in the South and the Semitic Akkadians in the North. The pivotal moment came in 2334 BCE when the Akkadians, under their leaders, conquered Sumerian territories, uniting the myriad city-states into a singular empire. This new political organization was revolutionary for its time, marking the beginning of the world's first empire.
British archaeologist Sir Henry Rawlinson played a significant role in unveiling this lost empire by translating cuneiform inscriptions — a writing system used for multiple ancient languages. Through his efforts, archaeologists gained insight into the Akkadian civilization, which had previously remained hidden from the annals of history.