History Amorites

1 history

1.1 effects on mesopotamia
1.2 downfall
1.3 states

history

in earliest sumerian texts, western lands beyond euphrates, including modern levant, known land of mar.tu (amorites) . term appears in enmerkar , lord of aratta, describes in time of enmerkar 1 of regions inhabited speakers of different language. text known lugalbanda , anzud bird describes how, 50 years enmerkar s reign, martu people arose in sumer , akkad, (southern mesopotamia) necessitating building of wall protect uruk.

there sparse mentions in tablets east semitic-speaking kingdom of ebla, dating 2500 bc destruction of city c. 2250 bc: perspective of eblaites, amorites rural group living in narrow basin of middle , upper euphrates in northern syria. akkadian kings of central mesopotamia mar.tu 1 of 4 quarters surrounding akkad, along subartu/assyria, sumer, , elam. naram-sin of akkad records successful campaigns against them in northern syria c. 2240 bc, , successor, shar-kali-sharri, followed suit.

by time of last days of third dynasty of ur, immigrating amorites had become such force kings such shu-sin obliged construct 270-kilometre (170 mi) wall tigris euphrates hold them off. amorites appear nomadic clans ruled fierce tribal chiefs, forced lands needed graze herds. of akkadian literature of era speaks disparagingly of amorites , implies akkadian- , sumerian-speakers of mesopotamia viewed nomadic , primitive way of life disgust , contempt:

the mar.tu know no grain.... mar.tu know no house nor town, boors of mountains.... mar.tu digs truffles... not bend knees (to cultivate land), eats raw meat, has no house during lifetime, not buried after death[.]

have prepared wheat , gú-nunuz (grain) confection, amorite eat without recognizing contains!

as centralized structure of third dynasty collapsed, component regions, such assyria in north , city-states of south such isin, larsa , eshnunna, began reassert former independence, , areas in southern mesopotamia amorites exception. elsewhere, armies of elam, in southern iran, attacking , weakening empire, making vulnerable.

many amorite chieftains in southern mesopotamia aggressively took advantage of failing empire seize power themselves. there not amorite invasion of southern mesopotamia such, amorites ascended power in many locations, during reign of last king of neo-sumerian empire, ibbi-sin. leaders amorite names assumed power in various places, usurping native akkadian rulers, including in isin, eshnunna , larsa. babylon small town, unimportant both politically , military, town raised status of minor independent city-state, under sumu-abum in 1894 bc.

the elamites sacked ur in c. 2004 bc. time later, old assyrian empire (c. 2050 – 1750 bc) became powerful entity in mesopotamia preceding rise of amorite king hammurabi of babylon. new assyrian monarchic line founded c. 2050 bc; kings repelled attempted amorite incursions, , may have countered influence in south under erishum i, ilu-shuma , sargon i. however, assyria found throne usurped amorite in 1809 bc: last 2 rulers of old assyrian empire period, shamshi-adad , ishme-dagan, amorites originated in terqa (now in northeastern syria).

there wide range of views regarding amorite homeland. 1 extreme view kur mar.tu/māt amurrim covered whole area between euphrates , mediterranean sea, arabian peninsula included. other extreme view “homeland” of amorites limited area in northern syria (jebel bishri). since amorite language 1 of canaanite languages, branch of northwestern semitic languages, opposed south semitic languages found in arabian peninsula, considered native region around syria , transjordan.

effects on mesopotamia

the rise of amorite kingdoms in mesopotamia brought deep , lasting repercussions in political, social , economic structure, in southern mesopotamia.

the division kingdoms replaced babylonian city-states in southern mesopotamia. men, land , cattle ceased belong physically gods or temples , king. new amorite monarchs gave or let out indefinite period numerous parcels of royal or sacerdotal land, freed inhabitants of several cities taxes , forced labour, seems have encouraged new society emerge: society of big farmers, free citizens , enterprising merchants, last throughout ages. priest assumed service of gods , cared welfare of subjects, economic life of country no longer exclusively (or exclusively) in hands.

in general terms, mesopotamian civilization survived arrival of amorites, indigenous babylonian civilisation had survived short period of gutian dynasty of sumer s domination of south during restless period after fall of akkadian empire had preceded rise of third dynasty of ur (the neo-sumerian empire ). religious, ethical, technological, scientific , artistic directions in mesopotamia had been developing since 4th millennium bc not affected amorites hegemony. continued worship sumero-akkadian gods, , older sumerian myths , epic tales piously copied, translated, or adapted, minor alterations. scarce artistic production of period, there little distinguish preceding ur iii era.

the era of amorite kingdoms, c. 2000 – 1595 bc, known amorite period in mesopotamian history. principal amorite dynasties arose in mari, yamhad, qatna, briefly in assyria (under shamshi-adad i), isin, larsa , babylon.

babylon, minor state @ founding in 1894 bc, became briefly major power in ancient world during reign of hammurabi in first part of 18th century bc, , southern mesopotamia came known babylonia, north long before evolved assyria.

downfall

the era ended in northern mesopotamia, defeat , expulsion of amorites , amorite-dominated babylonians assyria puzur-sin , king adasi between 1740 , 1735 bc, , in far south, rise of native sealand dynasty c. 1730 bc. amorites clung on in once-more small , weak babylon until hittite sack of babylon (c. 1595 bc), ended amorite presence, , brought new ethnic groups, particularly kassites, forefront in southern mesopotamia. 15th century bc onward, term amurru applied region extending north of canaan far kadesh on orontes river in northern syria.

after expulsion mesopotamia, amorites of syria came under domination of first hittites and, 14th century bc, middle assyrian empire (1365–1050). appear have been displaced or absorbed new wave of semi-nomadic west semitic-speaking peoples, known collectively ahlamu during late bronze age collapse. arameans rose prominent group amongst ahlamu, , c. 1200 bc on, amorites disappeared pages of history. on, region had inhabited became known aram ( aramea ) , eber-nari.

states