Gutian Period (c.2141-c.2050 BC)
In the chaos of the diminishing Akkadian Empire the final blows were struck by the Gutians who after defeating Uruk took Agade and destroyed it. But the Gutians were less successful in the south. Lagash II regained prominence as a client state to the Gutian kings, peaking under Gudea (r.c.2080-c.2060 BC). Utuhegal of Uruk V (r.c.2055-c.2048 BC) took control of the region and defeated the last Gutian king, Tirigan (r.c.2050 BC).
Ur III Period (c.2047-c.1940 BC)
At the end of the reign of Utuhegal there seems to have been an apparently peaceful transition of power to Ur under its first king Ur-Nammu (r.c.2047-c.2030 BC). When Nammahani of Lagash II (r.c.2049-c.2046 BC) threatened Ur-Nammu’s control of the region, Ur-Nammu defeated and killed him.
Ur-Nammu enjoyed a relatively peaceful reign during which he undertook massive agricultural and building projects. He repaired canals, built or rebuilt temples and ziggurats all over Sumer, and is credited with the first known law code in history although it seems that it may have been written by his son Shulgi (r.c.2029-c.1982 BC).
Shulgi spent the first half of his long reign on peaceful activities. He erected new buildings, completed temples and ziggurats begun by his father, reformed the calendar, and introduced a new measure of grain. Later in his reign he embarked on a series of military campaigns in Kurdistan against the Hurrians and their allies the Lullubi. In southwest Iran he married his daughters to the rulers of Warahshe and Awan, took possession of Susa, crushed a revolt in Anshan, and used Elamite soldiers to defend Sumer’s southeastern border.
Shulgi was succeeded by his two sons Amar-Sin (r.c.1981-c.1973 BC) and Shu-Sin (r.c.1972-c.1964 BC), both of whom faced an increasing migration of Amorites. Shu-Sin built a wall 270 km (170 miles) long from the Tigris to the Euphrates to hold them off. When Ibbi-Sin (r.c.1963-c.1940 BC) came to the throne the empire literally disintegrated. Cities throughout the empire broke away from a king who could not protect them. In his eleventh year one of his generals, Ishbi-Erra (r.c.1953-c.1921 BC) proclaimed himself king in Isin. A few years earlier the Amorite Naplanum (r.c.1961-c.1940 BC) had been crowned in Larsa. Taking advantage of the situation, the Elamites invaded Sumer. In c.1940 BC they attacked the great city of Ur, took it, burned it down and withdrew. Ibbi-Sin was captured and taken to Elam where he died in captivity.
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