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[[File: Mesopotamie_Ur3.png|300px|thumbnail|left|250px|Map of Mesopotamia in the Third Millennium BC]]__NOTOC__ 

The Ur III kings not only unified much of Mesopotamia under one rule, but they also instituted a well-organized state and bureaucracy that was emulated by later dynasties. The Ur III kings also introduced trade and diplomatic policies that were influential, utilized agricultural practices that were used for centuries, and provided many of the basic ideas of Mesopotamian religion that were followed until the Hellenistic Period.

The Ur III Dynasty came to power after the Akkadian Dynasty grew weak and eventually collapsed. Akkad’s collapse ushered in an era of political and social instability in Mesopotamia, but also created opportunities for ambitious dynasts in other cities. Ur-Nammu (reigned c. 2112-2095 BC) was one such ambitious ruler.  After consolidating his power base within the city of Ur, Ur-Nammu used his army to bring most of Mesopotamia under the rule of Ur. A cuneiform inscription in the Sumerian language, known as the “Laws of Ur-Nammu,” documents this process, along with a number of laws the king enacted in the conquered territories. The text provides insight not only into how Ur-Nammu conquered Mesopotamia, but more importantly how he and the other Ur III kings viewed their action.

The creation and expansion of the Ur III Empire that was begun by Ur-Nammu was were completed by his son and successor, Shulgi. <ref> Kuhrt, p. 63</ref> The first millennium BC Akkadian cuneiform text, the “Babylonian Chronicle,” mentions Shulgi as a conqueror, but also as a bit of a brigand. “Shulgi, son of Ur-Namu, provided abundant food for Eridu, which is on the seashore. But he had criminal tendencies and took away the property of Esagil and Babylon as booty.” <ref> Grayson, A. Kirk, ed. <i>Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles.</i> (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2000), p. 154</ref>

<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Ancient History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</div>Although the first two Ur III kings established their empire through force, they were not as bellicose as many of the Mesopotamian dynasties that preceded and followed them. The Ur III kings relied on their well-oiled bureaucracy along with considerable long-distance trade and an innovative diplomatic policy to hold power. By the late third millennium BC, Ur came to dominate the textiles and metals trade in Mesopotamia, which the Ur III kings took advantage of through centralization.  The Ur III kings would direct trade through policies, but the trade itself was carried out by independent caravans and contractors who profited nicely. Ur III trade worked so well that some modern scholars believed that a proto-currency was even developed in Ur at the time. Gold, silver, copper, and bronze coils have been discovered in excavations at Ur in a trade context, which has suggested to some archaeologists that the metals were used as a type of early currency. <ref> Kuhrt, p. 61</ref>

When one thinks of ancient Mesopotamian religion, the region’s massive temple complexes are often what first comes to mind. Ziggurats were large, triangular complexes that evolved from small structures to the three -story temples that came be built across Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Elam. The Ziggurat of Ur, which was dedicated to the moon god Nanna/Sin, measures 190 by 130 feet and is made of mudbrick. <ref> Frankfort, Henri. <i>The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient.</i> Fourth Edition. (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press), p. 104</ref> The now two level ziggurat was once three levels and provided the inspiration for all later ziggurats.