Old Akkadian Legal Texts and Contractual Practice (c. 2350–2150 BCE)

1. Akkadian rule expands documentary contracting

   Jan 1, 2334 BCELabels: Sargon, Akkadian administration

   • Britannica
   • BM Akkad

2. Standard witness-and-seal authentication entrenches

   Jan 1, 2325 BCELabels: Witness lists, Cylinder seals

   • BM Seals
   • CDLI

3. Old Akkadian house-sale contracts are attested

   Jan 1, 2300 BCELabels: House-sale contract, Quradum archive

   • Met 86 11
   • Met Collection

4. Imperial offices generate contract-linked archives

   Jan 1, 2290 BCELabels: Palace archives, Temple households

   • CDLI Archives
   • Oracc CDLI

5. Rimush reign anchors early Sargonic documentation

   Jan 1, 2278 BCELabels: Rimush, Year-names

   • Akkad Empire
   • Rimush

6. Manishtushu reign continues Sargonic contracting

   Jan 1, 2269 BCELabels: Manishtushu, Sargonic administration

   • Akkad Empire
   • Manishtushu

7. Manishtushu Obelisk records large land purchases

   Jan 1, 2260 BCELabels: Manishtushu Obelisk, Royal purchase

   • Manishtushu
   • Louvre

8. Naram-Sin reign spans mature Old Akkadian practice

   Jan 1, 2254 BCELabels: Naram-Sin, Sargonic contracts

   • Akkad Empire
   • U Mich Stele

9. Shar-Kali-Sharri reign amid mounting instability

   Jan 1, 2217 BCELabels: Shar-Kali-Sharri, Political instability

   • Akkad Empire
   • Dynasties List

10. Later Akkadian kings and fragmented authority

    Jan 1, 2189 BCELabels: Dudu, Shu-Turul

    • Akkad Empire
    • Dynasties List

11. Terminal Sargonic era marks end of Old Akkadian horizon

    Jan 1, 2154 BCELabels: Terminal Sargonic, Shu-Turul

    • Akkad Empire
    • Dynasties List

12. Old Akkadian contractual forms influence later traditions

    Jan 1, 2150 BCELabels: Contractual tradition, Mesopotamian influence

    • CDLI
    • Oracc CDLI