Gutian Dynasty: Map & History
The Gutian dynasty was a line of kings, originating among the Gutian people.
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The Gutian dynasty was a line of kings, originating among the Gutian people. Originally thought to be a horde that swept in and brought down Akkadian and Sumerian rule in Mesopotamia, the Gutians are now known to have been in the area for at least a century by then. By the end of the Akkadian period, the Sumerian city of Adab was occupied by the Gutians, who made it their capital. The Gutian dynasty came to power in Mesopotamia near the end of the 3rd millennium BC, after the decline and fall of the Akkadian Empire. How long Gutian kings held rulership over Mesopotamia is uncertain, with estimates ranging from a few years up to a century. The end of the Gutian dynasty is marked by the accession of Uruk ruler Utu-hengal, marking the short-lived "Fifth dynasty of Uruk", followed by Ur ruler Ur-Nammu, founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur.
Modern Countries Once Part of Gutian Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Gutian Dynasty covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Gutian Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Gutian Dynasty in Depth
History
At one time it was believed that Gutium was known from the 24th century BC, well before the time of the Gutian dynasty. This was based on a tablet purportedly from the Early Dynastic ruler of Adab Lugal-Anne-Mundu. The inscription included Gutium in the area paying tribute to the ruler. This inscription is now understood to be an Old Babylonian period literary composition written many centuries after the time of Lugal-Anne-Mundu. The first attestation of Gutium came from early in the Sargonic period when the Gutians are mentioned in year names of Akkadian rulers and established a capital at the prominent Early Dynastic Sumerian city of Adab.
The full history of the Gutian dynasty is not known.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Gutian rule in Mesopotamia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Gutian Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 131,488 km² in 2050 BCE.
Gutian Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Gutian Dynasty exist?
The Gutian Dynasty is dated to 2100 BCE – 2001 BCE, in the Bronze Age Civilizations era.
What was the capital of the Gutian Dynasty?
The capital of the Gutian Dynasty was Adab.
How large was the Gutian Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 2050 BC the Gutian Dynasty covered about 131,488 km².
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