Editing Larsa (section)

===Middle Bronze Age===
[[File:Worshipper Larsa Louvre AO15704.jpg|thumb|The [[Worshipper of Larsa]], a votive statuette dedicated to the god [[Amurru (god)|Amurru]] for [[Hammurabi]]'s life, early [[2nd millennium BC]], [[Louvre]]]]
{{main|Isin-Larsa period}}
The city became a political force during the [[Isin-Larsa period]]. After the [[Third Dynasty of Ur]] collapsed c. 2004 BC, [[Ishbi-Erra]], an official of the last king of the Third Dynasty of Ur, [[Ibbi-Sin]], relocated to [[Isin]] and set up a government which purported to be the successor to the Third Dynasty of Ur. From there, Ishbi-Erra recaptured [[Ur]] as well as the cities of [[Uruk]] and Lagash, which Larsa was subject to. Subsequent rulers of Isin appointed governors to rule over Larsa; one such governor was an [[Amorite]] named [[Gungunum]]. He eventually broke with Isin and established an independent dynasty in Larsa. To legitimize his rule and deliver a blow to Isin, Gungunum captured the city of Ur. In his year names he recorded the defeat of the distant [[Anshan]] in Elam as well as city-states closer to Larsa such as [[Malgium]]. As the region of Larsa was the main center of trade via the [[Persian Gulf]], Isin lost an enormously profitable trade route, as well as a city with much cultic significance.

Gungunum's two successors, [[Abisare]] (c. 1905–1894 BC) and [[Sumuel]] (c. 1894–1865 BC), both took steps to cut Isin completely off from access to canals. Isin quickly lost political and economic influence.

[[File:Detail of a terracotta cylinder of Nabonidus, recording the restoration work on the temple of Shamash at Larsa. 555-539 BCE. Probably from Larsa, Iraq, housed in the British Museum.jpg|thumb|Detail of a terracotta cylinder of Nabonidus, recording the restoration work on the temple of Shamash at Larsa. Dated to 555–539 BC. Probably from Larsa, Iraq. Housed in the British Museum]]
Larsa grew powerful, but never accumulated a large territory. At its peak under king [[Rim-Sin I]] (c. 1822–1763 BC), Larsa controlled about 10–15 other city-states. In the latter half of this period the city of [[Mashkan-shapir]] acted as a second capital of the city-state.<ref>Steinkeller, P., "A History of Mashkan-shapir and Its Role in the Kingdom of Larsa", In E. C. Stone & P. Zimansky (eds.), The Anatomy of a Mesopotamian City. Survey and Soundings at Mashkan-shapir, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, pp. 26-42, 2004</ref><ref>Ali Ahmed Gadalla, Azza, "The City of Mashkan-Shabir and The Kingdom of Larsa", Annals of the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University 50.13, pp. 294-321, 2022</ref> Nevertheless, huge building projects and agricultural undertakings can be detected archaeologically. After the defeat of Rim-Sin I by [[Hammurabi]] of [[Babylon]], Larsa became a minor site, though it has been suggested that it was the home of the First [[Sealand Dynasty]] of Babylon.<ref>W. G. Lambert, "The Home of the First Sealand Dynasty", [[Journal of Cuneiform Studies]], 26, pp. 208–210, 1974</ref>