The earliest known empire was the Akkadian Empire. For around 1,000 years, Mesopotamia was dominated by city-states—small political units, where a city controlled its surrounding area. In 2330 BCE, Sargon of Akkad took control of southern Mesopotamia. He ruled from the city of Akkad, the center of his small empire.

The Akkadian Empire is widely recognized as the world's first true empire, established around 2334 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). Founded by Sargon of Akkad, it was the first political entity to unite disparate city-states—such as Sumer and Akkad—under a single, centralized government and a common language (Akkadian). The empire reached its zenith under Sargon’s grandson, Naram-Sin, who was the first ruler to declare himself a "living god." The Akkadians introduced many imperial "firsts," including a postal service, a standardized calendar, and a professional standing army. While some argue that earlier Sumerian dynasties showed imperial tendencies, the Akkadian Empire is the first to fit the modern definition of an empire: a multi-ethnic state with a central authority governing vast, conquered territories. It lasted for approximately 180 years before collapsing due to internal strife and a severe environmental drought. Its legacy influenced every subsequent empire in the region, from the Babylonians to the Persians.