Early Dynastic period

E212309

The Early Dynastic period was an early phase of ancient Mesopotamian history marked by the rise of independent city-states, the development of cuneiform writing, and increasing political complexity in Sumer.

All labels observed (14)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (60)

Predicate Object
instanceOf archaeological period
historical period
characterizedBy competition among city-states
development of cuneiform writing
increasing political complexity
palace institutions
rise of independent city-states
temple-centered economies
culture Akkadian culture
linked to: Akkadians

Sumerian civilization
linked to: Sumer
documentedIn Sumerian King List
economicActivity agriculture
long-distance trade
metallurgy
textile production
endTime c. 2350 BCE
followedBy Akkadian Empire
Sargonic period
follows Jemdet Nasr period
Uruk period
hasArchaeologicalSite Fara (ancient Shuruppak)
Tell Abu Salabikh
Tell al-Ubaid
Telloh (ancient Girsu)
linked to: Lagash
hasCapital Uruk
hasImportantCity Adab
Kish
Lagash
Larsa
Nippur
Shuruppak
Umma
Ur
hasNotableRuler Eannatum of Lagash
linked to: Eannatum

Enmebaragesi of Kish
linked to: Kish

Gilgamesh
Mesannepada of Ur
hasPart Early Dynastic I
Early Dynastic II
Early Dynastic III
Early Dynastic IIIa
Early Dynastic IIIb
knownFor development of city-state kingship
earliest historical inscriptions in cuneiform
early law codes and administrative texts
intensive irrigation agriculture
inter-city warfare
royal inscriptions
locatedIn Mesopotamia
Sumer
southern Mesopotamia
linked to: Lower Mesopotamia
mainLanguage Akkadian
Sumerian
linked to: Sumerian language
militaryFeature city walls
organized standing forces
partOf Bronze Age
history of Mesopotamia
religion Mesopotamian polytheism
startTime c. 2900 BCE
usesWritingSystem cuneiform

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (34)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Nippur flourishedDuring Early Dynastic period
Uruk timePeriod Uruk period
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Ur flourishedInPeriod Early Dynastic period
Standard of Ur period Early Dynastic III period
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Eanna temple complex period Early Dynastic period
Northern Babylonia precededBy Early Dynastic Mesopotamia
subject linked to: northern Babylonia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Sumerian literature locatedInTime Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Early Dynastic period hasPart Early Dynastic I
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Early Dynastic period hasPart Early Dynastic II
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Early Dynastic period hasPart Early Dynastic III
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Early Dynastic period hasPart Early Dynastic IIIa
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Early Dynastic period hasPart Early Dynastic IIIb
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Niffer hasArchaeologicalStrataFrom Early Dynastic period
Lagash flourishedDuring Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Kish partOf Early Dynastic Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Kish periodOfFlourishing Early Dynastic period
Kish hasDynasty First Dynasty of Kish
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Umma partOf Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Umma timePeriod Early Dynastic III period
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Sumerian religion flourishedDuring Early Dynastic period
Gilgamesh timePeriodTraditionallyPlaced Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Kesh Temple Hymn period Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Uruk archaeological site hasPeriod Early Dynastic period
Eannatum locatedInTime Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Lugalzagesi timePeriod Early Dynastic III period
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Enmerkar era Early Dynastic period (traditional setting)
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Royal Tombs of Ur culturalPeriod Early Dynastic period
Sud worshipPeriod Early Dynastic period
Ishkur timePeriod Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Ninsun worshipPeriod Early Dynastic period
Warka culturalPeriod Early Dynastic period
Ninurta worshipPeriod Early Dynastic period
Ur flourishedInPeriod Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia
subject linked to: World Heritage Site (Ur)
linked to: Early Dynastic period
Abdju periodOfUse Early Dynastic Period
linked to: Early Dynastic period