Editing Akkadian Empire (section)

==Dating and periodization==
The Akkadian period is generally dated to 2334–2154 BC (according to the [[middle chronology]]). The [[Short chronology|short-chronology]] dates of 2270–2083 BC are now considered less likely. It was preceded by the [[Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia]] (ED) and succeeded by the [[Ur III period|Ur III Period]], although both transitions are blurry. For example, it is likely that the rise of [[Sargon of Akkad]] coincided with the late ED Period and that the final Akkadian kings ruled simultaneously with the [[Gutian dynasty of Sumer|Gutian]] kings alongside rulers at the city-states of both [[Uruk]] and [[Lagash]]. The Akkadian Period is contemporary with EB IV (in [[Israel]]), EB IVA and EJ IV (in Syria), and EB IIIB (in [[Turkey]]).<ref name=schrakamp/><ref name=pruss2004>{{citation |last1=Pruß |first1=Alexander |year=2004 |editor1-last=Lebeau |editor1-first=Marc |editor2-last=Sauvage |editor2-first=Martin |title=Atlas of Preclassical Upper Mesopotamia |chapter=Remarks on the Chronological Periods |pages=7–21 |isbn=978-2503991207 |series=Subartu |volume=13 }}</ref>

===Timeline of rulers===
{{Main|List of kings of Akkad}}

The relative order of Akkadian kings is clear, while noting that the Ur III version of the Sumerian King List inverts the order of Rimush and Manishtushu.<ref>Steinkeller, P., "An Ur III manuscript of the Sumerian King List", in: W. Sallaberger [e.a.] (ed.), Literatur, Politik und Recht in Mesopotamien. Festschrift fü r Claus Wilcke. OBC 14. Wiesbaden, 267–29, 2003</ref><ref>Thomas, Ariane. "The Akkadian Royal Image: On a Seated Statue of Manishtushu" Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 105, no. 1-2, 2015, pp. 86–117</ref> The absolute dates of their reigns are approximate (as with all dates prior to the [[Late Bronze Age collapse]] ''c.'' 1200 BC).<ref name="Mieroop2007" >{{cite book |last1=van de Mieroop |first1=M. |author-link=Marc Van de Mieroop |title=A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000–323 BC |year=2007 |publisher=Blackwell |location=Malden |isbn=978-0-631-22552-2}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Ruler
!
! Middle chronology<br/><small>All dates BC</small>
!Family tree
|-
|[[Sargon of Akkad|Sargon]]
|[[File:Sargon_of_Akkad_on_his_victory_stele.jpg|30px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2334–2279
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=7|[[File:Akkadkings.jpg|400px]]
|-
|[[Rimush]]
|[[File:Rimush_victory_stele_archer.jpg|30px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2278–2270
|-
|[[Manishtushu]]
|[[File:Statue_de_Manishtusu_-_Sb_47_-_Antiquités_orientales_du_Louvre.jpg|30px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2269–2255
|-
|[[Naram-Sin of Akkad|Naram-Sin]]
|[[File:Relief_of_Naram-Sin_(portrait).jpg|30px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2254–2218
|-
|[[Shar-Kali-Sharri]]
|[[File:Impression_of_an_Akkadian_cylinder_seal_with_inscription_The_Divine_Sharkalisharri_Prince_of_Akkad_Ibni-Sharrum_the_Scribe_his_servant.jpg|30px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2217–2193
|-
|[[Dudu of Akkad|Dudu]]
|[[File:Alabaster_vase_of_Dudu_of_Akkad_Louvre_Museum_AO_31549.jpg|30px|Alabaster vase of Dudu of Akkad Louvre Museum AO 31549]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2189–2169
|-
|[[Shu-turul]]
|[[File:Votive_hammer_of_Shu-turul_Room_56_Display_case_11_British_Museum_(with_reconstruction_of_the_inscription).jpg|30px|Votive_hammer_of_Shu-turul]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2168–2154
|}