How did the Sumerian Empire decline and fall?

The Sumerian civilization was one of the earliest civilizations in the world, and it was located in Mesopotamia, which is now modern-day Iraq. The Sumerians are known for their invention of writing, the wheel, and the plow, among other things.

There is no single reason for the decline and fall of the Sumerian Empire, but rather a combination of factors. One major factor was the invasion of the Akkadians, who were a neighboring people. The Akkadians conquered the Sumerians around 2334 BCE, and their ruler Sargon became the first emperor of the Akkadian Empire.

Another factor that contributed to the decline of the Sumerian Empire was the environmental degradation of the region. The Sumerians built an extensive system of canals and irrigation works to farm the fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Over time, the soil became saltier and less fertile, and the canals became clogged with silt.

Internally, the Sumerian Empire faced political instability and conflict between the city-states. In addition, the Sumerians were constantly at war with their neighbors, which took a toll on their resources and manpower.

By the end of the 3rd millennium BCE, the Sumerian Empire had fragmented into a number of smaller city-states, which were eventually conquered by other neighboring peoples.