Recent archaeological discoveries in Mesopotamia have unearthed hundreds of administrative tablets from the ancient Sumerian site of Girsu, offering the earliest physical evidence of governmental bureaucracy spanning back to 2300-2150 BC. These tablets illuminate the nuanced operations of the world's first empire, established by Sargon the Great. The detailed records illustrate the functioning of governance and imperial control in a way not previously captured by fragments and royal inscriptions, providing new insights into the ancient administrative practices that formed an essential backbone of civilization.
"Sargon developed this new form of governance by conquering all the Sumerian cities of Mesopotamia, creating what most historians call the first empire in the world."
"These are the spreadsheets of empire, the very first material evidence of the very first empire in the world - the real evidence of the imperial control and how it actually worked."
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