A map of Akkad and its surroundings. The Akkadian Empire under Sargon the Great is often considered the very first multinational empire, having encompassed numerous cities and surrounding regions
The First Empire
Having migrated from down south of Sumer in the Arabian Peninsula, the Semitic Akkadians invaded and soon took over the state and moved their own capital to the city of Akkad further north up the banks of the Euphrates. Though they forced out the Sumerians by force, their technological innovations were little compared to their predecessors. They mostly assimilated into the existing society and even absorbed much of the Sumerian culture. However, they fiercely defended their own language, and Akkadian became a centerpiece language of much of ancient Mesopotamia.
Sargon the Great- Conqueror and Emperor
According to legend, Sargon managed to conquer the entire world. While we know now this wasn't even close to being the case, he did achieve a monstrous feat- becoming the first emperor in history, and conqueror of all of Mesopotamia. Ruling from 2334 to 2279 B.C.E. (according to most sources, though the actual time is unclear), a younger Sargon first set up his capital at Agade (Akkad) on the site of Kish and became first king of the Agade Dynasty. He set out to conquer the "four corners" of the world before gaining control of the city-states of Ur, Umma, and Lagash. While creating a new empire based on trade (as to aid the pursuit of the tin and copper needed to make bronze) he extended an empire from Asia Minor to the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea, and even the island of Cyprus.