The Second Sumerian State
The capital of Ur
When the Akkadian Empire was overthrown the Sumerians once again became the dominant rulers of the Fertile Crescent. The Sumerian cities were united under strong leadership of kings and priests forming a new empire. The major city and capital of this Sumerian state was the thriving seaport of Ur. Over the thousands of years since Ur was an active city the river has build up silt at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Today all the remains of this once rich and mighty city are huge mounds of dirt six miles from the Euphrates River and almost a hundred miles from the Persian Gulf.
The fall of Ur
The Second Sumerian State ended in 2000 B.C. About the time Ur was destroyed bay a large group of wandering peoples who invaded the Fertile Crescent. For 200 years Mesopotamia was plunged into chaos and warfare. During this time a new city Babylon was growing. This city soon dominated the entire Middle East. Although the Sumerian ceased to control the Mesopotamian area their culture greatly influenced ever civilization that followed.