In the past twenty or thirty years，The word "empire", which originated from Latin, has become a fashionable term in the study bet365 ohio promo code ancient world，Widely used in Asia、Europe、Africa、Different eras in America，The two river basins are naturally no exception。The Mesopotamia was founded by Sargon from about 2316 BC to 2173 BC，Unified dynasty ruled by four generations and five monarchs to Sharkalisharri，Generally known as the Sargonid Dynasty、Akkad Dynasty，Sometimes also labeled as the Sargonian Empire or the Akkadian Empire，And often known as the first recorded "empire" in human history。This label may help modern researchers bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian dynasty find some semblance of real-world relevance，But strictly speaking，The application bet365 ohio promo code concept of "empire" in ancient research is a double-edged sword。On the one hand，The "imperial missions" bet365 ohio promo code past and present do have something in common，Applying the concept of "empire" helps to find the continuity of ancient and modern politics。On the other hand，"Imperialism" in the modern world means equating, at least in appeal, the boundaries of imperial power with the boundaries bet365 ohio promo code known human world，This does not apply to ancient times。The ancients’ understanding bet365 ohio promo code human world is not fundamentally different from that of modern times，But they are fully aware bet365 ohio promo code "no limit" at the discourse level at the practical level。

Of course，The reason why Akkad receives special attention from imperial historians，It may also be related to an ancient political and cultural history fact bet365 ohio promo code Mesopotamia，That is Sargon, King of Akkad、Naram-Sin and others were praised as models bet365 ohio promo code Mesopotamia in later generations。According to Piotr Steinkeller bet365 ohio promo code newly published multi-volume "The Oxford World History of Empire"，The two thousand years from Ur III, shortly after the Akkadian dynasty, to Alexander，Rulers large and small bet365 ohio promo code Mesopotamia often trace their rule back to Akkad，Assyria, the great empire that finally spanned Asia and Africa () Especially so。The Assyrian Empire is naturally an empire，Akkad as a model for the Assyrian Empire，There is even more reason to call it an empire。However，Mario Liverani has a fairly comprehensive discussion bet365 ohio promo code "imperial rationale" bet365 ohio promo code Assyrian Empire，It seems that he does not agree with calling Akkad an "empire"。Whatever，The exemplary status of Sargon and Naranzing can be demonstrated，For the Mesopotamia in later generations，The Akkadian dynasty shows some "reasons" that are worthy of recognition，This "reason" may not be what scholars call the "imperial reason"，But its meaning must be greater than "world conqueror"、Tag like "marcher lord" is much more abundant。

　　Agricultural “bet365 ohio promo code” and the Rise of Akkad

Rather than relying on highly subjective literary materials，Discuss mainly on the ideological level whether Akkad’s “reason for empire” conforms to the norm，It is better to go back to the historical context bet365 ohio promo code early Mesopotamia and look for the "civilization reasons" reflected in the rise bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian dynasty。The so-called “imperial reasons” and “civilization reasons”，It’s all our intentional borrowing of “reason of state”，The former is a translation of an existing usage (literally "imperial mission")，The latter is an alternative concept that we put forward in a targeted manner，Used to refer to the logic of civilization history that is often obscured by discussions about "reasons for state" and "reasons for empire"。“Reason of State” was mainly written by Machiavelli in modern times、A political concept carried forward by Hobbes and others，The nation-state adopts supra-legal principles in foreign affairs and even domestic affairs、Ultramoral measures are regarded as a reality that must be accepted。In fact，Same as the colonialists’ self-proclaimed “civilizing mission” theory，“Reason of State” is also a conceptual tool used by modern Europe and America to reconstruct the world。Although there is only one word difference，The "civilizing mission" must be distinguished especially from what we call "civilizing reasons"，There are fundamental differences between the two。

Due to the limitations of archaeological data，Also due to the constraints bet365 ohio promo code theoretical framework，The discussion on the origin of early Mesopotamian civilization is still basically limited to the Euphrates River、The valley area of ​​the Tigris River system，Generally divided into south and north with Baghdad as the boundary，The rhythm and path of early civilization development in the two regions are different。Research in recent years has proposed revisions to many traditional views that have a certain "Southern-centered" flavor。For example，Uruk, located near the Persian Gulf, is often considered to be the first city in the history of Mesopotamia civilization and the history of human civilization。But，Augusta McMahon and other scholars emphasized，Northern Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium BC，Today’s northern Iraq、Northeastern Syria、Southeastern Türkiye，Local origin has appeared、Has a certain scale and owns its own hinterland，Revealing population diversity、Space functionalization、Cities with social stratification and other characteristics，Keeping pace with the development of cities in the southern Mesopotamia，If it is not earlier in terms of time。

What needs to be noted is，These early northern cities were in what Tony James Wilkinson called the "Zone of Uncertainty" in the northern Mesopotamia region，That is, the annual precipitation is approximately between 180-300 mm，Is the edge of dryland agriculture，More sensitive to climate change，The business model has greater uncertainty。Although due to the accumulation of data，Relevant discussions among archaeologists tend to focus on the northern Mesopotamia basin，This "uncertainty zone" marked by climate indicators actually covers a much wider area。From the Taurus Mountains to the Zagros Mountains，This "uncertain zone" is outside the Euphrates and Tigris waterways，From the northern coast bet365 ohio promo code Persian Gulf to Damascus and Jerusalem，Form a connecting line that is both virtual and real but has important historical significance。The width of this zone sometimes fluctuates dramatically with climate change，Based on the construction of scholars such as Dan Lawrence，The fourth millennium BC can be said to be the most extensive period covered by this "uncertain zone"。But by the late fourth millennium BC，Due to the large-scale trend of dryness and coldness in West Asia，The early cities that were originally within the "uncertain zone" bet365 ohio promo code northern Mesopotamia basin collapsed one after another，The southern valley plains benefit from agriculture、Development of fisheries，And some scholars believe that it developed due to the business opportunities related to the relative strengthening bet365 ohio promo code monsoon，Created Uruk, the largest city in the world at that time。

In other words，The cultural phenomenon in Western Asia in the fourth millennium BC is often called "Uruk expansion"，In the 1990s, it was interpreted by Guillermo Algaze as a "world system" centered on the Mesopotamia in the south，Need to seek understanding in this climate context of waxing and waning。For understanding the origin bet365 ohio promo code early Mesopotamian civilization，This dimension should at least be superimposed on the social system evolution bet365 ohio promo code southern Mesopotamia Bay Area model。Overall，The north-south divergence in livelihood patterns mainly caused by climate change lasted until the middle bet365 ohio promo code third millennium BC，The climate begins to warm up during this period，The northern Mesopotamia Basin begins to re-urbanize，There is also a tendency for northern and southern city-states to merge with each other in terms of governance models and cultural practices。The turmoil caused by this integration，Although we lack sufficient knowledge of its historical details，Looks like the northern style of secular kingship was established in the south，Institutionally prepared for the rise of Akkad originating from the "Uncertain Zone" on the upper reaches bet365 ohio promo code Tigris River。Based on information from the late Early Dynasty，Sargon defeated Lugalzagesi of Uruk after taking control bet365 ohio promo code important northern town of Kish，Started the process of unifying the two river basins。It’s just that we know almost nothing about the previous history bet365 ohio promo code Akkadians。The location bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian capital is still difficult to determine，It is generally believed that it should be between the Tigris River and its tributary Diyala, not far from Samarra。

　　Reunderstanding the Unification War bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian Dynasty

In addition to the limited number of archaeological remains，Documents from the Akkadian period include a certain number of clay tablets and inscriptions，Several letters mainly between officials and a small number of laws、Education and other types of literature，Together with artifacts such as roller seals, etc.，Can provide some fragments bet365 ohio promo code history bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian dynasty。Based on inscriptional documents handed down in kind or mainly in the form of manuscripts from the Old Babylonian Period, as well as the year names chronicling events in Akkadian clay tablets，The Akkadian kings mainly appeared as military conquerors。This is probably the effect that the kings of Akkad hoped to achieve，But it often leads to modern people’s disapproval of Sargon、An undue misunderstanding by Naransin and even the entire Akkadian dynasty。

Based on a brief summary by Ingo Schrakamp，After defeating Lugarzaghis and taking control of Sumer，Sargon also expedition to Elam、Syria、Upper Diyala River Region，His successor Rimush suppressed the rebellious Mesopotamia cities and probably succeeded in taking control of Khuzistan，Manishtushu defeated Anshan bet365 ohio promo code Iranian Plateau，Expedition to the north shore bet365 ohio promo code Persian Gulf estuary，In the north, deep into Nineveh。Nalan Xing Period，The rule bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian dynasty enters its heyday，Southeast to present-day Iranian Plateau，Northwest to the Mediterranean，North to southern Türkiye，Northeast to Urartu region，The entire Euphrates and Tigris river basins, as well as the valley plains and mountain highlands along the Taurus Mountains to the Zagros Mountains were brought under the rule bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian Dynasty，Naransing has also become a veritable "King bet365 ohio promo code Four Directions" (LUGAL ki-ib-ra-tim ar-ba-im)。Due to the successful suppression bet365 ohio promo code great rebellion from south to north，Naransin was deified in the 25th year of his reign，The inscription on the Basetki Statue unearthed 70 kilometers northwest of present-day Mosul records this extraordinary event (Toronto System Inscription Number: E2.1.4.10）。

How to understand this often bloody conquest record，There is great controversy among historians。Sargon’s inscription reads “He came from Meluhha”、Magan、Dilmun’s ships docked at the docks of Akkad” (Toronto System Inscription Number: E2.1.1.11）。According to scholar research，Meluha refers to the Indus River Basin，This period was an important trading partner and source of rare goods in the two river basins。According to such information，Some scholars have linked Akkadian conquests and control bet365 ohio promo code trade route "from Shanghai to the Lower Sea", that is, from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, and the traffic artery later known as the Khurasan Road，Give it an economic rationale。For example，Schtankler explained this in principle in "Oxford History bet365 ohio promo code Empire"。This view is certainly good，It is expected that the conquest bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian Dynasty would have this motivation。But，You can find out by carefully reviewing the directions in which the Akkadian kings used their troops，Opening up and controlling trade routes may only be half the story，Because bet365 ohio promo code military operations bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian kings, especially the "uncertain zones" in the north and east during the Naransin period，In fact, it should be regarded as a unified war aiming at peace and stability。At this time, Akkad faced the so-called climate event 4200 years ago (4.2 kya event），The Akkadians themselves come from the "Uncertain Zone", whether active or passive，For peace and survival，Strive to control the entire re-turbulent "uncertain zone"，It becomes a necessity。

This is Nalan Xing’s continuous campaign，Especially to the north、Expansion eastward，The real reason to establish a wide-area dynasty，This is what we call "civilized reasons"。Facing the “Uncertain Zone”，Only by crossing over can there be peace，And civilization is nothing but peace and prosperity。Understand this，It is not surprising that the later generations bet365 ohio promo code Mesopotamia took the Akkadian dynasty as a model，Without exception, they are from the "Uncertain Zone"，Like Eshnuna，Or like the Third Dynasty of Ur，As a successor, you need to solve the same problems as the Akkadian Dynasty，The "civilization reason" for realizing the Akkadian dynasty a thousand years later，Incorporating the entire "uncertain zone" into the same governance scope，Unsurprisingly, it is the Assyrian Empire that meets these two conditions at the same time。According to documentation，The Gutians from the direction of Zagros invaded on a large scale during the Shakarisha period，And Akkad lost its influence as a capital，The Mesopotamia can only wait in chaos for the Third Dynasty of Ur to try again to complete Akkad's cause。This historical continuity is based on the same "civilization reason"，That is, reaching peace in a way that covers the "uncertain zone"。

This is actually not that complicated，It is a pity that it has not received the recognition and attention it deserves from the academic community for a long time，Scholars make general remarks on issues such as the extensive characteristics and militarization bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian dynasty's governance，However, there is a misunderstanding bet365 ohio promo code nature bet365 ohio promo code unification war bet365 ohio promo code Akkadian dynasty during the Naransin era。The height of Akkad in Sumer and Mari、Tell Brak，It was called Nagar at that time)、Gasur and Susa have garrisons。Speak without prejudice，These places are within the jurisdiction of Akkad，There is no essential difference between each other，Nor should we deny the fact that the Akkadian dynasty established a wide-area country through unification wars because of its extensive governance methods。This view seems to be suspicious of defending the bloody conqueror，The conversion of perspective does require more、More systematic research to support，But our problem is，If the above-mentioned garrisoning troops in strategic locations such as the Mesopotamia and the "Uncertain Zone" in the south is simply understood as controlling trade routes to gain benefits，What is the difference between the Akkadian monarchs and the thieves who robbed the road？Perhaps in the minds of some scholars，There is no difference between them，But this understanding is a bit too insulting to the ancients。

　1916，James Henry Breasted used the term "Fertile Crescent"，Description "Stretching from the northern coast bet365 ohio promo code Persian Gulf to Mesopotamia and western Iran、Southern Anatolia，The whole area extending southward along the eastern shores bet365 ohio promo code Eastern Mediterranean to the Sinai Desert"，But he has no intention of understanding the "reasons for civilization" in the ancient Mesopotamia，Instead, the "Fertile Crescent" is understood as the front line for the Aryans in the north to defeat the Semites in the south。Today，Compared to "national reasons" and "imperial reasons" that are applied to historical research without thinking，“Civilized reasons” is still a topic that no one cares about，It’s incredible。In fact，Connecting river valleys, plains and mountain plateaus by crossing over and encompassing the "uncertain zone"，The "civilized reason" to achieve peace and prosperity，It is the common wisdom of ancient West Asia and ancient East Asia。

(The author is a professor at the Institute of Global Civilization History, Shanghai International Studies University、Young scholars bet365 ohio promo code Ministry of Education’s “Yangtze River Scholars Award Program”)