Akkadian language

Akkadian () or Assyro-Babylonian was a Semitic language, part of the Afro-Asiatic language family, spoken in ancient Iraq. 



  The first-known Semitic language, it used the cuneiform writing system from ancient Sumer. 





History
The earliest known Akkadian inscription was found on a bowl at Ur. It was addressed to a very early pre-Sargonic king of Ur by his queen Gan-saman, who is thought to have been from Akkad. The Akkadian Empire, established by Sargon of Akkad, introduced the Akkadian language, i.e. the "language of Akkad", as a written language. It used Sumerian cuneiform orthography (writing method) for the purpose. 

During the middle Bronze Age (Old Assyrian and Old Babylonian period), the language displaced Sumerian. Sumerian probably became extinct as a living language by the 18th century BC.
Evolution
Akkadian is divided into several varieties based on geography and historical period:
Old Akkadian, 2500–1950 BC
Old Babylonian/Old Assyrian, 1950–1530 BC
Middle Babylonian/Middle Assyrian, 1530–1000 BC
Neo-Babylonian/Neo-Assyrian, 1000–600 BC
Late Babylonian, 600 BC–100 AD
References

Category:Asia
Category:West Asia
Category:Mesopotamia
Category:Extinct languages
Category:History of Asia
Category:Semitic languages