Lagash

Lagash 𒉢𒁓𒆷𒆠
26th century BCE–23rd century BCE
Location of Lagash in Sumer
Common languages	Sumerian
Dominant mode of production	Slavery
Government	Monarchy
History
• Established	26th century BCE
• Dissolution	23rd century BCE
Population
• Estimate	50,000

Lagash was an ancient Sumerian city-state. During the third millennium BCE, it surpassed Kish to become the dominant Sumerian city. The city of Umma was its longtime rival.

First Dynasty

King Eannatum defeated Umma in the mid-25th century BCE. Entemena, who ruled about a century after Eannatum, ended the war by defeating Umma again. The war worsened the internal economy of Lagash.

Reforms of Urukagina

The masses supported Urukagina, who removed King Lugalanda from power and made himself king. Urukagina reigned for six years and enacted the first known laws in history. He reduced taxes on the clergy, increased payments to temple workers, and made temples independent from royal authority. He decreased the amount of religious payment and conscript labor required for free commoners and exempted craftsmen from some taxes. He reestablished rural courts and protected the citizens of Lagash against debt slavery. An alliance between the cities of Umma and Uruk conquered Lagash and reversed Urukagina's reforms.