Episode 09
Who Killed the First Empire?
The Akkadian Empire supplied history with one of its first imperial dynasties, but its capital has never been located. Mariana and Tyson test the curse, invasion, climate, and systems-collapse explanations for the empire's end.
Coming Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Episode 09 is finished and scheduled. It runs about 31 min. Show notes, chapters and the full transcript go up with the audio.
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The evidence
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
An Akkadian king climbs a mountain under celestial signs while defeated soldiers fall away beneath him.
- Date
- c. 2250 BCE
- Place
- Found at Susa, Iran
- Held
- Musée du Louvre, Paris
- Catalog
- Sb 4