<P> The Akkadian period is generally dated to 2350--2170 BC according to the Middle Chronology, or 2230--2050 BC according to the Short Chronology . Around 2334 BC, Sargon became ruler of Akkad in northern Mesopotamia . He proceeded to conquer an area stretching from the Persian Gulf into modern - day Syria . The Akkadians were a Semitic people and the Akkadian language came into widespread use as the lingua franca during this period, but literacy remained in the Sumerian language . The Akkadians further developed the Sumerian irrigation system with the incorporation of large weirs and diversion dams into the design to facilitate the reservoirs and canals required to transport water vast distances . The dynasty continued until around c. 2154 BC, and reached its zenith under Naram - Sin, who began the trend for rulers to claim divinity for themselves . </P> <P> The Akkadian Empire lost power after the reign of Naram - Sin, and eventually was invaded by the Guti from the Zagros Mountains . For half a century the Guti controlled Mesopotamia, especially the south, but they left few inscriptions, so they are not well understood . The Guti hold loosened on southern Mesopotamia, where the second dynasty of Lagash came into prominence . Its most famous ruler was Gudea, who left many statues of himself in temples across Sumer . </P> <P> Eventually the Guti were overthrown by Utu - hengal of Uruk, and the various city - states again vied for power . Power over the area finally went to the city - state of Ur, when Ur - Nammu founded the Ur III Empire (2112--2004 BC) and conquered the Sumerian region . Under his son Shulgi, state control over industry reached a level never again seen in the region . Shulgi may have devised the Code of Ur - Nammu, one of the earliest known law codes (three centuries before the more famous Code of Hammurabi). Around 2000 BC, the power of Ur waned, and the Amorites came to occupy much of the area, although it was Sumer's long - standing rivals to the east, the Elamites, who finally overthrew Ur . In the north, Assyria remained free of Amorite control until the very end of the 19th century BC . This marked the end of city - states ruling empires in Mesopotamia, and the end of Sumerian dominance, but the succeeding rulers adopted much of Sumerian civilization as their own . </P> <P> Of the early history of the kingdom of Assyria, little is positively known . The Assyrian King List mentions rulers going back to the 23rd and 22nd century BC . The earliest king named Tudiya, who was a contemporary of Ibrium of Ebla, appears to have lived in the mid-23rd century BC, according to the king list . Tudiya concluded a treaty with Ibrium for the use of a trading post in The Levant officially controlled by Ebla . Apart from this reference to trading activity, nothing further has yet been discovered about Tudiya . He was succeeded by Adamu and then a further thirteen rulers about all of whom nothing is yet known . These early kings from the 23rd to late 21st centuries BC, who are recorded as kings who lived in tents were likely to have been semi nomadic pastoralist rulers, nominally independent but subject to the Akkadian Empire, who dominated the region and at some point during this period became fully urbanised and founded the city state of Ashur . A king named Ushpia (c. 2030 BC) is credited with dedicating temples to Ashur in the home city of the god . In around 1975 BC Puzur - Ashur I founded a new dynasty, and his successors such as Shalim - ahum, Ilushuma (1945--1906 BC), Erishum I (1905--1867 BC), Ikunum (1867--1860 BC), Sargon I, Naram - Sin and Puzur - Ashur II left inscriptions regarding the building of temples to Ashur, Adad and Ishtar in Assyria . Ilushuma in particular appears to have been a powerful king and the dominant ruler in the region, who made many raids into southern Mesopotamia between 1945 BC and 1906 BC, attacking the independent Sumero - Akkadian city states of the region such as Isin, and founding colonies in Asia Minor . This was to become a pattern throughout the history of ancient Mesopotamia with the future rivalry between Assyria and Babylonia . However, Babylonia did not exist at this time, but was founded in 1894 BC by an Amorite prince named Sumuabum during the reign of Erishum I . </P>

In what region in southern mesopotamia had many cities formed by 3000 bc