Eshnunna

Eshnunna
Eshnunna
circa 3000 BCE–circa 1700 BCE
The extent of Eshnunna's influence circa 1764 BCE
Capital		Eshnunna
Government		Monarchy
King
•	circa 2000 BCE	Urguedinna (first)
•	circa 1700 BCE	Silli-Sin (last)
Historical era		Bronze Age
•	Established	circa 3000 BCE
•	Disestablished	circa 1700 BCE
Preceded by Succeeded by Apum First Babylonian Dynasty
Today part of		Iraq

Coordinates: 33°29′3″N 44°43′42″E / 33.48417°N 44.72833°E / 33.48417; 44.72833

Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar in Diyala Province, Iraq) was an ancient Sumerian (and later Akkadian) city and city-state in central Mesopotamia. Although situated in the Diyala Valley north-east of Sumer proper, the city nonetheless belonged securely within the Sumerian cultural milieu.

The tutelary deity of the city was Tishpak (Tišpak).

Occupied from the Jemdet Nasr period, about 3000 BC, Eshnunna was a major city during the Early Dynastic period. Beginning with the rise of the Akkadian Empire, Eshnunna oscillated between periods of independence and domination by empires such as the Third Dynasty of Ur and Isin. Because of its promise of control over lucrative trade routes, Eshnunna could function somewhat as a gateway between Mesopotamian and Elamite culture. The trade routes gave it access to many exotic, sought-after goods such as horses from the north, copper, tin, and other metals and precious stones. In a grave in Eshnunna, a pendant made of copal from Zanzibar was found.