User:SomeGuyWhoRandomlyEdits/First dynasty of Ur

The first dynasty of Ur (abbreviated Ur I) was a dynasty of rulers from the city of Ur who (r. c. 2600 – c. 2112 BCE). Ur I is (primarily) part of the Early Dynastic III period (c. 2600) of ancient Mesopotamia. It was preceded by the first dynasty of Uruk on the Sumerian King List (SKL). Only four (out of a total of up to twelve) of the rulers from the first dynasty of Ur are mentioned on the SKL. Likewise on the SKL: the first dynasty of Ur was succeeded by an Elamite dynasty from Awan.

Rule
The first dynasty may have been preceded by one other dynasty of Ur unnamed on the SKL which had extensive influence over the area of Sumer, and apparently led a union of south Mesopotamian polities.

Governors
A-Imdugud ((r. undefined – undefined)) is the earliest archaeologically recorded ruler from Ur said to have held the Sumerian title for governor.

Kings
Ur-Pabilsag is the earliest archaeologically recorded ruler from Ur said to have held the Sumerian title for king. He was preceded by his father (A-Imdugud).

Great kings
Ur-Pabilsag may have succeeded by his son Meskalamdug (who (r. c. 2600 – c. 2550) as a king). Mesannepada ((r. undefined – undefined)) is the first king of Ur listed on the SKL. Two other rulers earlier than Mesannepada are known from other sources, namely Puabi (probably (r. undefined – undefined) with the Sumerian title for queen) and Akalamdug ((r. c. 2600 – undefined) as king). It would seem that both Akalamdug and Mesannepada may have been sons of Meskalamdug, according to an inscription found on a bead in Mari, and Meskalamdug may have been the true founder of the first dynasty.

Mesilim ((r. c. 2550 – c. 2500)) may have enjoyed suzerainty over Ur and Adab. He is also mentioned in some of the earliest monuments as arbitrating a border dispute between Lagash and Umma. Mesilim's placement before, during, or after the reign of Mesannepada in Ur is uncertain, owing to the lack of other synchronous names in the inscriptions, and his absence from the SKL. Some have suggested that Mesilim and Mesannepada were in fact one and the same; however, others have disputed this theory. Both Mesilim and Mesannepada also seem to have subjected Kish, thereafter assuming the title king of Kish for themselves. The title king of Kish would be used by many kings of the preeminent dynasties for some time afterward.

International trade
The Ur I dynasty had enormous wealth as shown by the lavishness of its tombs. This was probably due to the fact that Ur acted as the main harbour for trade with India, which put her in a strategic position to import and trade vast quantities of gold, carnelian or lapis lazuli. In comparison, the burials of the kings of Kish were much less lavish. High-prowed Summerian ships may have traveled as far as Meluhha, thought to be the Indus region, for trade.

Royal cemetery at Ur
The Royal Cemetery at Ur held the tombs of several rulers of the first dynasty of Ur. The tombs are particularly lavish, and testify to the wealth of the first dynasty. One of the most famous tombs is that of Puabi. The artifacts found in the royal tombs of the dynasty show that foreign trade was particularly active during this period, with many materials coming from foreign lands, such as carnelian likely coming from the Indus or Iran, lapis Lazuli from the Badakhshan area of Afghanistan, silver from Turkey, copper from Oman, and gold from several locations such as Egypt, Nubia, Turkey or Iran. Carnelian beads from the Indus were found in Ur tombs dating to 2600-2450, in an example of Indus-Mesopotamia relations. In particular, carnelian beads with an etched design in white were probably imported from the Indus Valley, and made according to a technique developed by the Harappans. These materials were used into the manufacture of beautiful objects in the workshops of Ur.