External Factors: Climate Change, Invasions, and Regional Conflicts

External Factors: Climate Change, Invasions, and Regional Conflicts

Climate Change

  • Droughts and Desertification:

    • Sumerian civilization heavily relied on irrigation and agriculture.
    • Prolonged droughts and desertification led to crop failures and water shortages.
    • Desertification reduced the amount of arable land available for farming.

  • Flooding:

    • The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were prone to flooding.
    • Floods destroyed crops, infrastructure, and settlements.
    • Flooding also disrupted trade and transportation routes.

  • Salinization:

    • Irrigation practices led to the accumulation of salts in the soil.
    • Salinization reduced soil fertility and crop yields.
    • Salinization also contributed to desertification.

Invasions

  • Akkadians:

    • The Akkadians, a Semitic people from northern Mesopotamia, invaded Sumer in the 24th century BCE.
    • The Akkadians conquered the Sumerian city-states and established the Akkadian Empire.
    • The Akkadian Empire lasted for about 200 years before collapsing due to internal strife and invasions from other groups.

  • Amorites:

    • The Amorites, a nomadic people from the Syrian Desert, invaded Sumer in the 21st century BCE.
    • The Amorites conquered the Akkadian Empire and established their own kingdom in Mesopotamia.
    • The Amorite kingdom lasted for about 400 years before collapsing due to invasions from the Hittites and Kassites.

  • Hittites:

    • The Hittites, an Indo-European people from Anatolia, invaded Sumer in the 16th century BCE.
    • The Hittites conquered the Amorite kingdom and established their own empire in Mesopotamia.
    • The Hittite Empire lasted for about 400 years before collapsing due to invasions from the Assyrians and Babylonians.

Regional Conflicts

  • Sumerian City-States:

    • The Sumerian city-states were often in conflict with each other.
    • Conflicts were typically over land, water, and trade routes.
    • These conflicts weakened the Sumerian civilization and made it more vulnerable to invasions from outside groups.

  • Mesopotamian Empires:

    • The Mesopotamian empires, such as the Akkadian, Amorite, and Hittite empires, were also in conflict with each other.
    • These conflicts were typically over territory, power, and resources.
    • These conflicts further weakened the Sumerian civilization and contributed to its decline.

Conclusion

The Sumerian civilization declined and fell due to a combination of internal and external factors. Climate change, invasions, and regional conflicts all played a role in the downfall of this once-great civilization.