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"The Fall of Mari and the Rise of the Neo-Sumerian Empire (2050 BCE)"
Around 2050 BCE, the ancient city of Mari, located on the Euphrates River in modern-day Syria, faced a period of decline as the Third Dynasty of Ur (also called the Neo-Sumerian Empire) consolidated power under King Ur-Nammu and his successors.
Mari had been a significant trade and political center in northern Mesopotamia, but by the late 3rd millennium BCE, its influence waned as the Neo-Sumerian Empire, based in Ur, expanded its control over Mesopotamia. The rulers of Ur sought to re-establish centralized authority, reviving Sumerian culture, language, and administrative systems after the collapse of the Akkadian Empire.
By the reign of Shulgi (r. c. 2094-2047 BCE), the Neo-Sumerian Empire reached its zenith, implementing bureaucratic reforms, standardized weights and measures, and extensive building projects. Shulgi's campaigns likely weakened or absorbed former Akkadian vassals, including Mari, bringing it under indirect Sumerian influence—though Mari retained some autonomy.
Excavations at Mari reveal that the city was not destroyed in 2050 BCE but rather underwent a shift in power dynamics. The Neo-Sumerian Empire's dominance is reflected in administrative texts and trade records, showing Mari's integration into Ur's economic sphere.
While Mari would later regain prominence under Amorite rulers (notably in the Old Babylonian period), its subjugation to Ur marked a key moment in Mesopotamian history—where Sumerian culture experienced a final resurgence before the rise of Babylon.
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