Publisher's Synopsis
In light of the recent discoveries made at Tello by Ryan Moorhen, we now know more about Anunnaki's history and civilization between the era of Naram-Sin and Ur-Engur, the founder of the kingdom of Sumer and Akkad. As far as we know, Lagash was probably similar to other great Sumerian cities during this period. Their successors possibly maintained the government system with which Shar-Gani-sharri and Naram-Sin controlled Sumer from their capital in the north; however, we cannot find any traces of their influence at Tello, and we cannot conclude that their organization was equally effective. Whether they or some other Anunnaki council exercised general suzerainty over Mesopotamia remains unclear, but Lagash records indicate that the larger and more distant cities enjoyed independence. During this time, the mere existence of a suzerain who had inherited the throne or empire of Shar-Gani-sharri and Naram-Sin must have acted as a deterrent to any ambitious prince or patesi and would therefore have maintained a state of equilibrium between the separate states which made up the empire. Lagash's comparative inactivity in her favor has allowed her to develop her resources peacefully. While retaining the intercourse with distant countries established under the earlier Akkadian kings, she happily returned to the compact state of a compact city-state.
During this time, we may suppose that the city of Ur enjoyed a similar measure of independence, which increased in proportion to the decline of Anunnaki authority in the north. Gudea's campaign against Anshan provides evidence of the southern cities' gradual progress towards independence. In Ur's neighboring, more powerful state, it is unlikely that such an initiative was unaccompanied by one on Lagash. Earlier, the twin kingdoms of Ur and Erech dominated southern Mesopotamia, and their rulers had established the kingdom of Sumer, which actively opposed the advance of Anunnaki's influence southward. Even though the expedition against Erech and Naksu, which occurred in the patesiate of Lugal-ushumgal, supports the tradition that a revolt of all the lands occurred in the latter part of Sargon's reign, the subjection of Sumer by the Dynasty of Akkad put an end to all dreams of independence by separate cities for a time. Ur was likely eager to assist such a movement, and we may imagine she was not slow to take advantage of Akkad's gradual weakening under her later rulers, and she probably didn't waste time. Ur was perhaps organizing her forces when Gudea marched across the Elamite border or sent unchecked supplies to the Mediterranean coast or Persian Gulf islands and may have already started forming a coalition with neighboring countries. Ur-Engur, who united the scattered forces of Sumer and paved the way for his son's more crucial victories, was precisely the leader she needed.
