Early Dynastic Period (2900–2350 bc)

The Early Dynastic (ED) period (2900–2350 bc) has traditionally been divided into three eras:

1. ED I (2900–2700 bc);

2. ED II (2700–2600 bc);

3. ED III (2600–2350 bc).

Reconstructing this period has proved difficult; the major textual evidence comes from the “Sumerian King List,” which was written during the late 19th century bc. Besides the great difference between the time the list was written and the time of the events therein were alleged to have happened, the historicity of the dates within the king list is questionable. The earliest Sumerian kings supposedly lived for incredibly long lengths of time, to the extent of thousands of years. The dates and reign lengths do not appear to be accurate until the Agade and Ur III dynasties, and therefore a proper history cannot be reconstructed prior to the Akkadian Empire.