document_title: List of countries by length of coastline

question_text: what country has the longest coastline in the world

text: Overview[edit]

text: The coastline paradox states that a coastline does not have a well-defined length. Measurements of the length of a coastline behave like a fractal, being different at different scale intervals (distance between points on the coastline at which measurements are taken). The smaller the scale interval (meaning the more detailed the measurement), the longer the coastline will be.[Note 1] This "magnifying" effect is greater for convoluted coastlines than for relatively smooth ones. Treated as fractals, coastlines can however be measured. For example, the coast of Great Britain has a size of about 28000 km1.43, which is called its Hausdorff measure.[1]

text:
Data marked The World Factbook or TWF covers 198 countries and 55 territories, from the book published by the Central Intelligence Agency. In addition to coastline lengths, this is the source of the land area used to calculate the "coast/area ratio" for both TWF and WRI (see below) coastline measurement. This ratio measures how many meters of coastline correspond to every square kilometer of land area. The ratio illustrates the ease of accessibility to the country's coast from every point in its interior. Therefore, an island country like Maldives, or a country carved by the sea like Greece, is more likely to have a high ratio, while a landlocked country will have a ratio of zero. Note that the scales at which The World Factbook figures were measured are not stated, nor is it known whether the figures are all reported using the same scale, thus the figures are not necessarily comparable across different countries.
Data marked World Resources Institute or WRI covers 182 independent countries and 13 dependencies, based on data calculated in 2000 from the World Vector Shoreline, United States Defense Mapping Agency, 1989. It may include territories whose status have changed. According to their technical notes, the "coastline length was derived from the World Vector Shoreline database at 1:250,000 scale. The estimates (...) were calculated using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and an underlying database consistent for the entire world. The methodology used to estimate length is based on the following: 1) A country's coastline is made up of individual lines, and an individual line has two or more vertices and/or nodes. 2) The length between two vertices is calculated on the surface of a sphere. 3) The sum of the lengths of the pairs of vertices is aggregated for each individual line, and 4) the sum of the lengths of individual lines was aggregated for a country. In general, the coastline length of islands that are part of a country, but are not overseas territories, are included in the coastline estimate for that country (e.g., Canary Islands are included in Spain). Coastline length for overseas territories and dependencies are listed separately. Disputed areas are not included in country or regional totals."[2]

text: List[edit]

text: Note: non-sovereign areas in italic

text:
Country
The World Factbook[3]
World Resources Institute[2]
Land area
km2 (TWF)[4]
Coast/area ratio (m/km2)

#
km
#
km
(TWF)
(WRI)

 World[Note 2]
—
7006116230600000000♠1,162,306
—
1,634,701
7008148940000000000♠148,940,000
7.80
11.0

 Others[Note 3]
—
7005356000000000000♠356,000

 Canada
7000100000000000000♠1
7005202080000000000♠202,080
1
265,523
7006909350700000000♠9,093,507
22.2
29.2

 Norway
7000200000000000000♠2
7004581330000000000♠58,133
7
53,199
7005304282000000000♠304,282
191
175

 Indonesia
7000300000000000000♠3
7004547200000000000♠54,720
4
95,181
7006181156900000000♠1,811,569
30.2
52.5

 Greenland[Note 4]
—
7004440870000000000♠44,087

7006216608600000000♠2,166,086
20.4

 Russia
7000400000000000000♠4
7004376530000000000♠37,653[Note 5]
3
110,310
7007163777420000000♠16,377,742
2.30
6.74

 Philippines
7000500000000000000♠5
7004362890000000000♠36,289
8
33,900
7005341353000000000♠341,353
122
114

 Japan
7000600000000000000♠6
7004297510000000000♠29,751
12
29,020
7005364485000000000♠364,485
81.6
79.6

 Australia
7000700000000000000♠7
7004257600000000000♠25,760
6
66,530
7006768230000000000♠7,682,300
3.35
8.66

 United States
7000800000000000000♠8
7004199240000000000♠19,924
2
133,312
7006914759300000000♠9,147,593
2.18
14.6

 Antarctica
—
7004179680000000000♠17,968

7007140000000000000♠14,000,000
1.28

 New Zealand
7000900000000000000♠9
7004151340000000000♠15,134
17
17,209
7005264537000000000♠264,537
57.2
65.1

 China
7001100000000000000♠10
7004145000000000000♠14,500
11
30,017
7006932641000000000♠9,326,410
1.55
3.22

 Greece
7001110000000000000♠11
7004136760000000000♠13,676
19
15,147
7005131957000000000♠131,957
104
115

 United Kingdom
7001120000000000000♠12
7004124290000000000♠12,429
16
19,717
7005241930000000000♠241,930
51.4
81.5

 Mexico
7001130000000000000♠13
7003933000000000000♠9,330
14
23,761
7006194394500000000♠1,943,945
4.80
12.2

 Italy
7001140000000000000♠14
7003760000000000000♠7,600
28
9,226
7005294140000000000♠294,140
25.8
31.4

 Croatia
7001150000000000000♠15
7003736800000000000♠7,368[5]
42
5,664
7004559740000000000♠55,974
112
101

 Denmark
7001160000000000000♠16
7003731400000000000♠7,314
44
5,316
7004424340000000000♠42,434
172
125

 Turkey
7001170000000000000♠17
7003720000000000000♠7,200
31
8,140
7005783562000000000♠783,562
9.19
10.4

 India
7001180000000000000♠18
7003750000000000000♠7,500
18
17,181
7006297319300000000♠2,973,193
2.35
5.78

 Chile
7001190000000000000♠19
7003643500000000000♠6,435
5
78,563
7005743812000000000♠743,812
8.65
106

 Brazil
7001200000000000000♠20
7003749100000000000♠7,491
9
33,379
7006845941700000000♠8,459,417
0.886
3.95

 Micronesia, Federated States of
7001210000000000000♠21
7003611200000000000♠6,112
92
1,295
7002702000000000000♠702
8,710
1,840

 Solomon Islands
7001220000000000000♠22
7003531300000000000♠5,313
26
9,880
7004279860000000000♠27,986
190
353

 Papua New Guinea
7001230000000000000♠23
7003515200000000000♠5,152
15
20,197
7005452860000000000♠452,860
11.4
44.6

 Argentina
7001240000000000000♠24
7003498900000000000♠4,989
30
8,397
7006273669000000000♠2,736,690
1.82
3.07

 Iceland
7001250000000000000♠25
7003497000000000000♠4,970
29
8,506
7005100250000000000♠100,250
49.6
84.8

 Spain[Note 6]
7001260000000000000♠26
7003496400000000000♠4,964
34
7,268
7005498980000000000♠498,980
9.95
14.6

 Metropolitan France
7001270000000000000♠27
7003485300000000000♠4,853
33
7,330
7005640427000000000♠640,427
7.58
11.4

 Madagascar
7001280000000000000♠28
7003482800000000000♠4,828
25
9,935
7005581540000000000♠581,540
8.30
17.1

 Malaysia
7001290000000000000♠29
7003467500000000000♠4,675
27
9,323
7005328657000000000♠328,657
14.2
28.4

 Estonia
7001300000000000000♠30
7003379400000000000♠3,794
61
2,956
7004423880000000000♠42,388
89.5
69.7

 Cuba
7001310000000000000♠31
7003373500000000000♠3,735
21
14,519
7005109820000000000♠109,820
34.0
132

 Svalbard
—
7003358700000000000♠3,587

7004620450000000000♠62,045
57.8

 Bahamas, The
7001320000000000000♠32
7003354200000000000♠3,542
24
11,238
7004100100000000000♠10,010
354
1,120

 Vietnam
7001330000000000000♠33
7003344400000000000♠3,444[Note 7]
23
11,409
7005310070000000000♠310,070
11.1
36.8

 Thailand
7001340000000000000♠34
7003321900000000000♠3,219
35
7,066
7005510890000000000♠510,890
6.30
13.8

 Sweden
7001350000000000000♠35
7003321800000000000♠3,218
13
26,384
7005410335000000000♠410,335
7.84
64.3

 Colombia
7001360000000000000♠36
7003320800000000000♠3,208
41
5,875
7006103870000000000♠1,038,700
3.09
5.66

 Coral Sea Islands
—
7003309500000000000♠3,095

7000290000000000000♠<3
7006103000000000000♠>1,000,000

 Somalia
7001370000000000000♠37
7003333300000000000♠3,333
50
3,898
7005627337000000000♠627,337
5.31
6.21

 Iran
7001380000000000000♠38
7003329400000000000♠3,294[Note 8]
40
5,891
7006163610000000000♠1,636,100
1.59
3.85

 French Southern and Antarctic Lands
—
7003294840000000000♠2,948.4[Note 9]

7003766760000000000♠7,667.6
385

 Venezuela
7001390000000000000♠39
7003280000000000000♠2,800
37
6,762
7005882050000000000♠882,050
3.17
7.67

 South Africa
7001400000000000000♠40
7003279800000000000♠2,798
51
3,751
7006121447000000000♠1,214,470
2.30
3.09

 Ukraine
7001410000000000000♠41
7003278200000000000♠2,782
45
4,953
7005579330000000000♠579,330
4.80
8.55

 Saudi Arabia
7001420000000000000♠42
7003264000000000000♠2,640
32
7,572
7006214969000000000♠2,149,690
1.23
3.52

 Vanuatu
7001430000000000000♠43
7003252800000000000♠2,528
59
3,132
7004121890000000000♠12,189
207
257

 French Polynesia
—
7003252500000000000♠2,525
—
5,830
7003382700000000000♠3,827
660
1,520

 Korea, North
7001440000000000000♠44
7003249500000000000♠2,495
49
4,009
7005120408000000000♠120,408
20.7
33.3

 Panama
7001450000000000000♠45
7003249000000000000♠2,490
43
5,637
7004743400000000000♠74,340
33.5
75.8

 Mozambique
7001460000000000000♠46
7003247000000000000♠2,470
36
6,942
7005786380000000000♠786,380
3.14
8.83

 Egypt
7001470000000000000♠47
7003245000000000000♠2,450
39
5,898
7005995450000000000♠995,450
2.46
5.92

 Peru
7001480000000000000♠48
7003241400000000000♠2,414
55
3,362
7006127999600000000♠1,279,996
1.89
2.63

 Korea, South
7001490000000000000♠49
7003241300000000000♠2,413
22
12,478
7004969200000000000♠96,920
24.9
129

 Germany
7001500000000000000♠50
7003238900000000000♠2,389
52
3,624
7005348672000000000♠348,672
6.85
10.4

 New Caledonia
—
7003225400000000000♠2,254
—
3,624
7004182750000000000♠18,275
123
198

 Ecuador
7001510000000000000♠51
7003223700000000000♠2,237
47
4,597
7005276841000000000♠276,841
8.08
16.6

 Eritrea
7001520000000000000♠52
7003223400000000000♠2,234[5]
54
3,446
7005101000000000000♠101,000
22.1
34.1

 Oman
7001530000000000000♠53
7003209200000000000♠2,092
65
2,810
7005309500000000000♠309,500
6.76
9.08

 Burma
7001540000000000000♠54
7003193000000000000♠1,930
20
14,708
7005653508000000000♠653,508
2.95
22.5

 Yemen
7001550000000000000♠55
7003190600000000000♠1,906
58
3,149
7005527968000000000♠527,968
3.61
5.96

 Morocco
7001560000000000000♠56
7003183500000000000♠1,835
73
2,009
7005446300000000000♠446,300
4.11
4.50

 Portugal
7001570000000000000♠57
7003179300000000000♠1,793
63
2,830
7004914700000000000♠91,470
19.6
30.9

 Haiti
7001580000000000000♠58
7003177100000000000♠1,771
77
1,977
7004275600000000000♠27,560
64.3
71.7

 Libya
7001590000000000000♠59
7003177000000000000♠1,770
71
2,025
7006175954000000000♠1,759,540
1.01
1.15

 Angola
7001600000000000000♠60
7003160000000000000♠1,600
67
2,252
7006124670000000000♠1,246,700
1.28
1.81

 Namibia
7001610000000000000♠61
7003157200000000000♠1,572
84
1,754
7005823290000000000♠823,290
1.91
2.13

 Taiwan
7001620000000000000♠62
7003156630000000000♠1,566.3
74
2,007
7004322600000000000♠32,260
48.6
62.2

 Palau
7001630000000000000♠63
7003151900000000000♠1,519

7002459000000000000♠459
3,310

 Northern Mariana Islands
—
7003148200000000000♠1,482

7002464000000000000♠464
3,190

 Ireland
7001640000000000000♠64
7003144800000000000♠1,448
38
6,437
7004688830000000000♠68,883
21.0
93.4

 Tanzania
7001650000000000000♠65
7003142400000000000♠1,424
53
3,461
7005885800000000000♠885,800
1.61
3.91

 Sri Lanka
7001660000000000000♠66
7003134000000000000♠1,340
64
2,825
7004646300000000000♠64,630
20.7
43.7

 United Arab Emirates
7001670000000000000♠67
7003131800000000000♠1,318
62
2,871
7004836000000000000♠83,600
15.8
34.3

 Costa Rica
7001680000000000000♠68
7003129000000000000♠1,290
70
2,069
7004510600000000000♠51,060
25.3
40.5

 Dominican Republic
7001690000000000000♠69
7003128800000000000♠1,288
88
1,612
7004483200000000000♠48,320
26.7
33.4

 Falkland Islands
—
7003128800000000000♠1,288

7004121730000000000♠12,173
106

 Finland
7001700000000000000♠70
7003125000000000000♠1,250
10
31,119
7005303815000000000♠303,815
4.11
102

 Tunisia
7001710000000000000♠71
7003114800000000000♠1,148
79
1,927
7005155360000000000♠155,360
7.39
12.4

 Kiribati
7001720000000000000♠72
7003114300000000000♠1,143
78
1,961
7002811000000000000♠811
1,410
2,420

 Fiji
7001730000000000000♠73
7003112900000000000♠1,129
46
4,638
7004182740000000000♠18,274
61.8
254

 Faroe Islands
—
7003111700000000000♠1,117

7003139300000000000♠1,393
802

Western Sahara
—
7003111000000000000♠1,110

7005266000000000000♠266,000
4.17

 Pakistan
7001740000000000000♠74
7003104600000000000♠1,046
66
2,599
7005881912000000000♠881,912
1.19
2.95

 Jamaica
7001750000000000000♠75
7003102200000000000♠1,022
102
895
7004108310000000000♠10,831
94.4
82.6

 Algeria
7001760000000000000♠76
7002998000000000000♠998
90
1,557
7006238174100000000♠2,381,741
0.419
0.654

 Cape Verde
7001770000000000000♠77
7002965000000000000♠965
97
1,121
7003403300000000000♠4,033
239
278

  Spratly Islands
—
7002926000000000000♠926

7000490000000000000♠<5
7005190000000000000♠>200,000

 Nicaragua
7001780000000000000♠78
7002910000000000000♠910
80
1,915
7005119990000000000♠119,990
7.58
16.0

 Gabon
7001790000000000000♠79
7002885000000000000♠885
72
2,019
7005257667000000000♠257,667
3.43
7.84

 Nigeria
7001800000000000000♠80
7002853000000000000♠853
60
3,122
7005910768000000000♠910,768
0.937
3.43

 Sudan
7001810000000000000♠81
7002853000000000000♠853
68
2,245
7006186148400000000♠1,861,484[6]
0.458
1.21

 Honduras
7001820000000000000♠82
7002832000000000000♠832[Note 10]
82
1,878
7005111890000000000♠111,890
7.44
16.8

 Mauritania
7001830000000000000♠83
7002754000000000000♠754
94
1,268
7006103070000000000♠1,030,700
0.732
1.23

 Hong Kong
—
7002733000000000000♠733
—
955
7003105400000000000♠1,054
695
906

 Timor-Leste
7001840000000000000♠84
7002706000000000000♠706

7004148740000000000♠14,874
47.5

 British Indian Ocean Territory
—
7002698000000000000♠698

7001600000000000000♠60
11,600

 Uruguay
7001850000000000000♠85
7002660000000000000♠660
98
1,096
7005175015000000000♠175,015
3.77
6.26

 Cyprus
7001860000000000000♠86
7002648000000000000♠648
112
671
7003924100000000000♠9,241
70.1
72.6

 Maldives
7001870000000000000♠87
7002644000000000000♠644
75
2,002
7002298000000000000♠298
2,160
6,720

 Bangladesh
7001880000000000000♠88
7002580000000000000♠580
56
3,306
7005130168000000000♠130,168
4.46
25.4

 Liberia
7001890000000000000♠89
7002579000000000000♠579
104
842
7004963200000000000♠96,320
6.01
8.74

 Qatar
7001900000000000000♠90
7002563000000000000♠563
100
909
7004115860000000000♠11,586
48.6
78.5

 Ghana
7001910000000000000♠91
7002539000000000000♠539
106
758
7005227533000000000♠227,533
2.37
3.33

 Kenya
7001920000000000000♠92
7002536000000000000♠536
89
1,586
7005569140000000000♠569,140
0.942
2.79

 Senegal
7001930000000000000♠93
7002531000000000000♠531
91
1,327
7005192530000000000♠192,530
2.76
6.89

  Paracel Islands
—
7002518000000000000♠518

7000775000000000000♠7.75
66,800

 Côte d'Ivoire
7001940000000000000♠94
7002515000000000000♠515
105
797
7005318003000000000♠318,003
1.62
2.51

 Puerto Rico
—
7002501000000000000♠501
—
1,094
7003887000000000000♠8,870
56.5
123

 Kuwait
7001950000000000000♠95
7002499000000000000♠499
107
756
7004178180000000000♠17,818
28.0
42.4

 Latvia
7001960000000000000♠96
7002498000000000000♠498
116
566
7004622490000000000♠62,249
8.00
9.09

 Seychelles
7001970000000000000♠97
7002491000000000000♠491
109
747
7002455000000000000♠455
1,080
1,640

 Guyana
7001980000000000000♠98
7002459000000000000♠459
95
1,154
7005196849000000000♠196,849
2.33
5.86

 Netherlands
7001990000000000000♠99
7002451000000000000♠451[Note 11]
81
1,914
7004338930000000000♠33,893
13.3
56.5

 Cambodia
7002100000000000000♠100
7002443000000000000♠443
96
1,127
7005176515000000000♠176,515
2.51
6.38

 Poland
7002101000000000000♠101
7002440000000000000♠440
99
1,032
7005312679000000000♠312,679
1.41
3.30

 Tonga
7002102000000000000♠102
7002419000000000000♠419
101
909
7002717000000000000♠717
584
1,270

 Samoa
7002103000000000000♠103
7002403000000000000♠403
120
463
7003282100000000000♠2,821
143
164

 Cameroon
7002104000000000000♠104
7002402000000000000♠402
83
1,799
7005469440000000000♠469,440
0.856
3.83

 Sierra Leone
7002104000000000000♠104
7002402000000000000♠402
86
1,677
7004716200000000000♠71,620
5.61
23.4

 Guatemala
7002106000000000000♠106
7002400000000000000♠400
122
445
7005107159000000000♠107,159
3.73
4.15

 Turks and Caicos Islands
—
7002389000000000000♠389

7002948000000000000♠948
410

 Belize
7002107000000000000♠107
7002386000000000000♠386
76
1,996
7004228060000000000♠22,806
16.9
87.5

 Suriname
7002107000000000000♠107
7002386000000000000♠386
114
620
7005156000000000000♠156,000
2.47
3.97

 Marshall Islands
7002109000000000000♠109
7002370400000000000♠370.4
69
2,106
7002181000000000000♠181
2,050
11,600

 Curaçao
—
7002364000000000000♠364

7002444000000000000♠444
820

 Albania
7002110000000000000♠110
7002362000000000000♠362
113
649
7004273980000000000♠27,398
13.2
23.7

 Trinidad and Tobago
7002110000000000000♠110
7002362000000000000♠362
110
704
7003512800000000000♠5,128
70.6
137

 Bulgaria
7002112000000000000♠112
7002354000000000000♠354
121
457
7005108489000000000♠108,489
3.26
4.21

 Guinea-Bissau
7002113000000000000♠113
7002350000000000000♠350
57
3,176
7004281200000000000♠28,120
12.4
113

 Comoros
7002114000000000000♠114
7002340000000000000♠340
119
469
7003223500000000000♠2,235
152
210

 Guinea
7002115000000000000♠115
7002320000000000000♠320
87
1,615
7005245717000000000♠245,717
1.30
6.57

 Djibouti
7002116000000000000♠116
7002314000000000000♠314
123
443
7004231800000000000♠23,180
13.5
19.1

 Georgia
7002117000000000000♠117
7002310000000000000♠310
124
376
7004697000000000000♠69,700
4.45
5.39

 El Salvador
7002118000000000000♠118
7002307000000000000♠307
108
756
7004207210000000000♠20,721
14.8
36.5

 Equatorial Guinea
7002119000000000000♠119
7002296000000000000♠296
115
603
7004280510000000000♠28,051
10.6
21.5

 Montenegro
7002120000000000000♠120
7002293500000000000♠293.5

7005251643000000000♠251,643
51.37

 Israel
7002121000000000000♠121
7002273000000000000♠273[Note 12]
136
205
7004203300000000000♠20,330
13.4
10.1

 Lebanon
7002122000000000000♠122
7002225000000000000♠225
125
294
7004102300000000000♠10,230
22.0
28.7

 Romania
7002122000000000000♠122
7002225000000000000♠225
111
696
7005229891000000000♠229,891
0.979
3.03

 São Tomé and Príncipe
7002124000000000000♠124
7002209000000000000♠209
128
269
7002964000000000000♠964
217
279

 Malta
7002125000000000000♠125
7002252810000000000♠252.81
137
198
7002316000000000000♠316
800
627

 Singapore
7002126000000000000♠126
7002193000000000000♠193
129
268
7002687000000000000♠687
281
390

 Syria
7002126000000000000♠126
7002193000000000000♠193
134
212
7005183630000000000♠183,630
1.05
1.15

 U.S. Virgin Islands
—
7002188000000000000♠188
—
390
7002346000000000000♠346
543
1,130

 Mauritius
7002128000000000000♠128
7002177000000000000♠177
118
496
7003203000000000000♠2,030
87.2
244

 Congo, Republic of the
7002129000000000000♠129
7002169000000000000♠169
135
205
7005341500000000000♠341,500
0.495
0.600

 Bahrain
7002130000000000000♠130
7002161000000000000♠161
132
255
7002760000000000000♠760
212
336

 Brunei
7002130000000000000♠130
7002161000000000000♠161
127
269
7003526500000000000♠5,265
30.6
51.1

 Cayman Islands
—
7002160000000000000♠160

7002264000000000000♠264
606

 Isle of Man
—
7002160000000000000♠160

7002572000000000000♠572
280

 Saint Lucia
7002132000000000000♠132
7002158000000000000♠158
139
166
7002606000000000000♠606
261
274

 Antigua and Barbuda
7002133000000000000♠133
7002153000000000000♠153
126
289
7002442600000000000♠442.6
346
653

 Dominica
7002134000000000000♠134
7002148000000000000♠148
141
152
7002751000000000000♠751
197
202

 Christmas Island
—
7002138900000000000♠138.9

7002135000000000000♠135
1,030

 Saint Kitts and Nevis
7002135000000000000♠135
7002135000000000000♠135

7002261000000000000♠261
517

 Wallis and Futuna
—
7002129000000000000♠129

7002142000000000000♠142
908

 Guam
—
7002125500000000000♠125.5

7002544000000000000♠544
231

 Jan Mayen
—
7002124100000000000♠124.1

7002377000000000000♠377
329

 Benin
7002136000000000000♠136
7002121000000000000♠121
140
153
7005110622000000000♠110,622
1.09
1.38

 Grenada
7002136000000000000♠136
7002121000000000000♠121
133
252
7002344000000000000♠344
352
733

 Cook Islands
7002138000000000000♠138
7002120000000000000♠120

7002236000000000000♠236
508

 Saint Pierre and Miquelon
—
7002120000000000000♠120

7002242000000000000♠242
496

 American Samoa
—
7002116000000000000♠116

7002199000000000000♠199
583

 Bermuda
—
7002103000000000000♠103
—
180
7001540000000000000♠54
1,910
3,330

 Heard Island and McDonald Islands
—
7002101900000000000♠101.9

7002412000000000000♠412
247

 Tokelau
—
7002101000000000000♠101

7001120000000000000♠12
8,420

 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
—
7002100000000000000♠100[Note 13]

7002308000000000000♠308
325

 Barbados
7002139000000000000♠139
7001970000000000000♠97
143
97
7002430000000000000♠430
226
226

 Lithuania
7002140000000000000♠140
7001900000000000000♠90
131
258
7004626800000000000♠62,680
1.44
4.12

 United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
—
7001857000000000000♠85.7

7001224100000000000♠22.41
3,820

 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
7002141000000000000♠141
7001840000000000000♠84
130
264
7002389000000000000♠389
216
679

 Akrotiri and Dhekelia
—
7001838000000000000♠83.8

7002253800000000000♠253.8[6]
330

 British Virgin Islands
—
7001800000000000000♠80

7002151000000000000♠151
530

 Gambia
7002142000000000000♠142
7001800000000000000♠80
117
503
7004100000000000000♠10,000
8.00
50.3

 Ashmore and Cartier Islands
—
7001741009999900000♠74.1

7000500000000000000♠5
14,800

 Jersey
—
7001700000000000000♠70

7002116000000000000♠116
603

 Aruba
—
7001685000000000000♠68.5
—
107
7002180000000000000♠180
381
594

 Belgium
7002143000000000000♠143
7001665000000000000♠66.5
144
76
7004302780000000000♠30,278
2.20
2.51

 Niue
7002144000000000000♠144
7001640000000000000♠64

7002260000000000000♠260
246

 Anguilla
—
7001610000000000000♠61

7001910000000000000♠91
670

 Saint Martin
—
7001589000000000000♠58.9[Note 14]

7001544000000000000♠54.4
1,080

 Iraq
7002145000000000000♠145
7001580000000000000♠58
142
105
7005437367000000000♠437,367
0.133
0.240

 Togo
7002146000000000000♠146
7001560000000000000♠56
145
53
7004543850000000000♠54,385
1.03
0.975

 Pitcairn Islands
—
7001510000000000000♠51

7001470000000000000♠47
1,090

 Guernsey
—
7001500000000000000♠50

7001780000000000000♠78
641

 Slovenia
7002147000000000000♠147
7001466000000000000♠46.6
146
41
7004201510000000000♠20,151
2.31
2.03

 Macau
—
7001410000000000000♠41
—
36
7001282000000000000♠28.2
1,450
1,280

 Gaza Strip
—
7001400000000000000♠40

7002360000000000000♠360
111

 Montserrat
—
7001400000000000000♠40

7002102000000000000♠102
392

 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
7002148000000000000♠148
7001370000000000000♠37
138
177
7006226704800000000♠2,267,048
0.0163
0.0781

 Norfolk Island
—
7001320000000000000♠32

7001360000000000000♠36
889

 Nauru
7002149000000000000♠149
7001300000000000000♠30

7001210000000000000♠21
1,430

 Bouvet Island
—
7001296000000000000♠29.6

7001490000000000000♠49
604

 Cocos (Keeling) Islands
—
7001260000000000000♠26

7001140000000000000♠14
1,860

 Jordan
7002150000000000000♠150
7001260000000000000♠26[Note 15]
147
27
7004888020000000000♠88,802
0.293
0.304

 Tuvalu
7002151000000000000♠151
7001240000000000000♠24

7001260000000000000♠26
923

 Bosnia and Herzegovina
7002152000000000000♠152
7001200000000000000♠20
148
23
7004511870000000000♠51,187
0.391
0.449

 Wake Island
—
7001193000000000000♠19.3

7000650000000000000♠6.5
2,970

 Gibraltar
—
7001120000000000000♠12

7000650000000000000♠6.5
1,850

 Clipperton Island
—
7001111000000000000♠11.1

7000600000000000000♠6
1,850

 Navassa Island
—
7000800000000000000♠8

7000540000000000000♠5.4
1,480

 Monaco
7002153000000000000♠153
7000410009999999999♠4.1

7000200000000000000♠2
2,050

 Saint Barthélemy
—
6999500000000000000♠NA

7001210000000000000♠21

 Sint Maarten
—
6999500000000000000♠NA[Note 16]

7001340000000000000♠34
0.0147

 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
—
6999500000000000000♠NA

7003390300000000000♠3,903
0.000128

 Kazakhstan
7002154000000000000♠154
6999400000000000000♠0[Note 17]
48
4,528
7006269970000000000♠2,699,700
0
1.68

 Turkmenistan
7002155000000000000♠155
6999300000000000000♠0[Note 18]
93
1,289
7005469930000000000♠469,930
0
2.74

 Azerbaijan
7002156000000000000♠156
6999200000000000000♠0[Note 19]
103
871
7004826290000000000♠82,629
0
10.5

 West Bank
—
5000000000000000000♠0[Note 20]

7003564000000000000♠5,640
0

 Afghanistan
7002158000000000000♠158
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005652230000000000♠652,230
0
0

 Andorra
7002159000000000000♠159
5000000000000000000♠0

7002468000000000000♠468
0

 Armenia
7002160000000000000♠160
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004282030000000000♠28,203
0
0

 Austria
7002161000000000000♠161
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004824450000000000♠82,445
0
0

 Belarus
7002162000000000000♠162
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005202900000000000♠202,900
0
0

 Bhutan
7002163000000000000♠163
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004383940000000000♠38,394
0
0

 Bolivia
7002164000000000000♠164
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7006108330100000000♠1,083,301
0
0

 Botswana
7002165000000000000♠165
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005566730000000000♠566,730
0
0

 Burkina Faso
7002166000000000000♠166
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005273800000000000♠273,800
0
0

 Burundi
7002167000000000000♠167
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004256800000000000♠25,680
0
0

 Central African Republic
7002168000000000000♠168
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005622984000000000♠622,984
0
0

 Chad
7002169000000000000♠169
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7006125920000000000♠1,259,200
0
0

 Czech Republic
7002170000000000000♠170
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004772470000000000♠77,247
0
0

 Ethiopia
7002171000000000000♠171
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7006100000000000000♠1,000,000
0
0

 Hungary
7002172000000000000♠172
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004896080000000000♠89,608
0
0

 Kyrgyzstan
7002173000000000000♠173
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005191801000000000♠191,801
0
0

 Laos
7002174000000000000♠174
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005230800000000000♠230,800
0
0

 Lesotho
7002175000000000000♠175
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004303550000000000♠30,355
0
0

 Liechtenstein
7002176000000000000♠176
5000000000000000000♠0

7002160000000000000♠160
0

 Luxembourg
7002177000000000000♠177
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7003258600000000000♠2,586
0
0

 Macedonia
7002178000000000000♠178
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004254330000000000♠25,433
0
0

 Malawi
7002179000000000000♠179
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004940800000000000♠94,080
0
0

 Mali
7002180000000000000♠180
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7006122019000000000♠1,220,190
0
0

 Moldova
7002181000000000000♠181
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004328910000000000♠32,891
0
0

 Mongolia
7002182000000000000♠182
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7006155355600000000♠1,553,556
0
0

   Nepal
7002183000000000000♠183
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005143351000000000♠143,351
0
0

 Niger
7002184000000000000♠184
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7006126670000000000♠1,266,700
0
0

 Paraguay
7002185000000000000♠185
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005397302000000000♠397,302
0
0

 Rwanda
7002186000000000000♠186
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004246680000000000♠24,668
0
0

 San Marino
7002187000000000000♠187
5000000000000000000♠0

7001610000000000000♠61
0

 Serbia
7002188000000000000♠188
5000000000000000000♠0

7004883610000000000♠88,361
0

 Slovakia
7002189000000000000♠189
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004481050000000000♠48,105
0
0

 South Sudan
7002190000000000000♠190
5000000000000000000♠0

7005644329000000000♠644,329[6]
0

 Swaziland
7002191000000000000♠191
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004172040000000000♠17,204
0
0

  Switzerland
7002192000000000000♠192
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7004399970000000000♠39,997
0
0

 Tajikistan
7002193000000000000♠193
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005141510000000000♠141,510
0
0

 Uganda
7002194000000000000♠194
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005197100000000000♠197,100
0
0

 Uzbekistan
7002195000000000000♠195
6999100000000000000♠0
85
1,707
7005425400000000000♠425,400
0
4.01

  Vatican City
7002196000000000000♠196
5000000000000000000♠0

6999440000000000000♠0.44
0

 Zambia
7002197000000000000♠197
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005743398000000000♠743,398
0
0

 Zimbabwe
7002198000000000000♠198
5000000000000000000♠0
149
0
7005386847000000000♠386,847
0
0

 French Guiana

—
763

 Guadeloupe

—
581

 Martinique

—
369

 Caribbean Netherlands

—
361

 Réunion

—
219


document_title: List of Major League Baseball doubles records

question_text: who holds the mlb record for most doubles in a season

root

text: 600 Career Doubles[edit]

text: (Through the end of the 2016 season)

tag: p

text:
Player
Doubles[1]
Seasons & Teams

Tris Speaker
792
1907–15 Boston (AL); 16–26 Cleveland; 27 Washington (AL); 28 Philadelphia (AL)

Pete Rose
746
1963–78, 84–86 Cincinnati; 79–83 Philadelphia (NL); 84 Montréal

Stan Musial
725
1941–44, 46–63 St. Louis (NL)

Ty Cobb
724
1905–26 Detroit; 27–28 Philadelphia (AL)

Craig Biggio
668
1988–2007 Houston

George Brett
665
1973–93 Kansas City

Napoleon Lajoie
657
1896–1900 Philadelphia (NL); 01-02, 15–16 Philadelphia (AL); 02-14 Cleveland

Carl Yastrzemski
646
1961–83 Boston (AL)

Honus Wagner
643
1897–99 Louisville (NL); 1900–17 Pittsburgh

David Ortiz
632
1997–2002 Minnesota; 2003–16 Boston (AL)

Henry Aaron
624
1954–74 Milwaukee-Atlanta; 75–76 Milwaukee

Albert Pujols
617
2001–11 St. Louis; 2012-2016 Anaheim

Paul Molitor
605
1978–92 Milwaukee (AL); 93–95 Toronto; 96–98 Minnesota

Paul Waner
605
1926–40 Pittsburgh; 41–42 Boston (NL); 43–44 Brooklyn; 44–45 New York (AL)

Cal Ripken, Jr.
603
1981–2001 Baltimore

Barry Bonds
601
1986–92 Pittsburgh; 93-2007 San Francisco

tag: table

text: Top 10 Career Doubles By League[edit]

text:
American League Player
Doubles
National League Player
Doubles

Tris Speaker
792
Pete Rose
746

Ty Cobb
723
Stan Musial
725

George Brett
665
Craig Biggio
668

Carl Yastrzemski
646
Honus Wagner
640

David Ortiz
619
Paul Waner
605

Paul Molitor
605
Barry Bonds
601

Cal Ripken, Jr.
603
Henry Aaron
600

Robin Yount
583
Luis Gonzalez
561

Wade Boggs
578
Tony Gwynn
543

Charlie Gehringer
571
Joe Medwick
540

text: Doubles in One Season[edit]

text:
Player
Doubles[2]
Team
Season

Earl Webb
67
Boston Red Sox
1931

George H. Burns
64
Cleveland Indians
1926

Joe Medwick
64
St. Louis Cardinals
1936

Hank Greenberg
63
Detroit Tigers
1934

Paul Waner
62
Pittsburgh Pirates
1932

Charlie Gehringer
60
Detroit Tigers
1936

Tris Speaker
59
Cleveland Indians
1923

Chuck Klein
59
Philadelphia Phillies
1930

Todd Helton
59
Colorado Rockies
2000

Billy Herman
57
Chicago Cubs
1935

Billy Herman
57
Chicago Cubs
1936

Carlos Delgado
57
Toronto Blue Jays
2000

Joe Medwick
56
St. Louis Cardinals
1937

George Kell
56
Detroit Tigers
1950

Craig Biggio
56
Houston Astros
1999

Garret Anderson
56
Anaheim Angels
2002

Nomar Garciaparra
56
Boston Red Sox
2002

Brian Roberts
56
Baltimore Orioles
2009

Jose Ramirez
56
Cleveland Indians
2017

Ed Delahanty
55
Philadelphia Phillies
1899

Gee Walker
55
Detroit Tigers
1936

Lance Berkman
55
Houston Astros
2001

Matt Carpenter
55
St. Louis Cardinals
2013

text: Evolution of the Single Season Record for Doubles[edit]

text:
Doubles[3]
Player
Team
Year
Years Record Stood

21
Ross Barnes
Chicago White Stockings
1876
2

21
Dick Higham
Hartford Dark Blues
1876
2

21
Paul Hines
Chicago White Stockings
1876
2

22
Dick Higham
Providence Grays
1878
1

31
Charlie Eden
Cleveland Blues
1879
3

37
King Kelly
Chicago White Stockings
1882
1

49
Ned Williamson
Chicago White Stockings
1883
4

52
Tip O'Neill
St. Louis Browns
1887
12

55
Ed Delahanty
Philadelphia Phillies
1899
24

48
Napoleon Lajoie
Philadelphia Athletics
1901
(3)

49
Napoleon Lajoie
Cleveland Bronchos
1904
(6)

51
Napoleon Lajoie
Cleveland Bronchos
1910
(2)

53
Tris Speaker
Boston Red Sox
1912
(11)

59
Tris Speaker
Cleveland Indians
1923
3

64
George H. Burns
Cleveland Indians
1926
5

67
Earl Webb
Boston Red Sox
1931
current

text: Lajoie's 1901 through Speaker's 1912 records are listed because some baseball historians and publications disregard any record set prior to the "Modern Era" which started in 1901.

text: Multiple Seasons with 50 Doubles[edit]

text:
Player
Seasons
Seasons & Teams

Tris Speaker[4]
5
1912 Boston (AL); 20–21, 23, 26 Cleveland

Paul Waner[5]
3
1928, 32, 36 Pittsburgh

Stan Musial[6]
3
1944, 46, 53 St. Louis (NL)

Albert Pujols[7]
3
2003–04 St. Louis (NL); 2012 Los Angeles (AL)

Brian Roberts[8]
3
2004, 08, 09 Baltimore (AL)

George H. Burns[9]
2
1926–27 Cleveland

Chuck Klein[10]
2
1930, 32 Philadelphia (NL)

Charlie Gehringer[11]
2
1934, 36 Detroit

Billy Herman[12]
2
1935–36 Chicago (NL)

Joe Medwick[13]
2
1936–37 St. Louis (NL)

Hank Greenberg[14]
2
1934, 40 Detroit

Edgar Martínez[15]
2
1995–96 Seattle

Craig Biggio[16]
2
1998–99 Houston

Todd Helton[17]
2
2000–01 Colorado

Nomar Garciaparra[18]
2
2000, 02 Boston (AL)

Miguel Cabrera[19]
2
2006 Florida; 14 Detroit

text: Seven Seasons with 40 Doubles[edit]

text:
Player
Seasons
Seasons & Teams

Tris Speaker
10
1912, 14 Boston (AL); 16–17, 20–23, 26 Cleveland; 27 Washington (AL)

Stan Musial
9
1943–44, 46, 48–50, 52–54 St. Louis (NL)

Harry Heilmann[20]
8
191921, 23–27, 29 Detroit; 30 Cincinnati

Wade Boggs[21]
8
1983, 85–91 Boston (AL)

Napoleon Lajoie[22]
7
1897–98 Philadelphia (NL); 1901 Philadelphia (AL); 03-04, 06, 10 Cleveland

Rogers Hornsby[23]
7
1920–22, 24–25 St. Louis (NL); 28 Boston (NL); 29 Chicago (NL)

Lou Gehrig[24]
7
1926–28, 30, 32–34 New York (AL)

Charlie Gehringer
7
1929–30, 32–34, 36–37 Detroit

Joe Medwick
7
1933–39 St. Louis (NL)

Pete Rose[25]
7
1968, 74–76, 78 Cincinnati; 79–80 Philadelphia (NL)

Craig Biggio
7
1993–94, 98–99, 2003–05 Houston

Todd Helton
7
2000–01, 03–07 Colorado

Albert Pujols[26]
7
2001-04, 08-09 St. Louis (NL); 2012 Los Angeles (AL)

Robinson Canó[27]
7
2006–2007, 2009–2013 New York (AL)

text: League Leader in Doubles, 5 or More Seasons[edit]

text:
Player
Titles[28]
Seasons & Teams

Tris Speaker
8
1912, 14 Boston (AL); 16, 18, 20–23 Cleveland

Stan Musial
8
1943–44, 46, 48–49, 53–54 St. Louis (NL)

Honus Wagner
7
1900, 02, 04, 06–09 Pittsburgh

Napoleon Lajoie
5
1898 Philadelphia (NL); 1901 Philadelphia (AL); 04, 06, 10 Cleveland

Pete Rose
5
1974–76, 78 Cincinnati; 80 Philadelphia (NL)

text: League Leader in Doubles, 3 or More Consecutive Seasons[edit]

text:
Player
Titles
Seasons & Teams

Honus Wagner
4
1906–09 Pittsburgh

Tris Speaker
4
1920–23 Cleveland

Dan Brouthers
3
1886–88 Detroit (NL)

Rogers Hornsby
3
1920–22 St. Louis (NL)

Joe Medwick
3
1936–38 St. Louis (NL)

Stan Musial
3
1952–54 St. Louis (NL)

Pete Rose
3
1974–76 Cincinnati

Don Mattingly
3
1984–86 New York (AL)

text: League Leader in Doubles, Three Decades[edit]

text:
Player
Seasons & Teams

never accomplished

text: League Leader in Doubles, Both Leagues[edit]

text:
Player
Seasons & Teams

Napoleon Lajoie
1898 Philadelphia (NL); 1901 Philadelphia (AL); 04, 06, 10 Cleveland

Ed Delahanty
1901 Philadelphia (NL); 02 Washington (AL)

text: League Leader in Doubles, Three Different Teams[edit]

text: Four Doubles by an Individual in One Game[edit]

text: This record is held by over 20 players.[29]

text: 4 Doubles in a Game by an Individual, Twice[edit]

text:
Player
Team
Date
Opponent

Gavvy Cravath
Philadelphia Phillies
August 8, 1915
Cincinnati Reds[30]

Philadelphia Phillies
June 23, 1919
Boston Braves[31]

Albert Belle
Baltimore Orioles
August 29, 1999
Detroit Tigers[32]

Baltimore Orioles
September 23, 1999
Oakland Athletics

text: 350 Doubles by a Team in One Season[edit]

text:
Doubles[33]
Team
Season

373
St. Louis Cardinals
1930

373
Boston Red Sox
1997

373
Boston Red Sox
2004

371
Boston Red Sox
2003

363
Boston Red Sox
2013

357
Cleveland Indians
1936

357
Toronto Blue Jays
2003

357
Texas Rangers
2006

356
Cleveland Indians
1930

355
Cleveland Indians
1921

353
St. Louis Cardinals
1931

352
Boston Red Sox
2007

352
Detroit Tigers
2007

351
Cleveland Indians
2006


document_title: Tricare

question_text: what type of health coverage plan is tricare prime

text: Tricare

text: History[edit]

text: Historically, health care for military personnel and their dependents was provided in military medical facilities as promised by the military, and through a referral system, by civilian medical personnel where military physicians were not available in a certain specialty, or when and where overcrowding of a military medical facility occurred.

text: Active duty military personnel always have priority for care in military medical facilities.  After World War II and the Korean War, especially with the growth in the standing forces of the U.S. military due to the Cold War, access to care in military facilities became increasingly unavailable for military retirees and the dependents of both active duty and retired military personnel due to resource constraints and growing demands on the system.  It was at this time that the concept of "space-available basis" for military retirees and military dependents was first noted. To address this problem, Congress passed the Dependents Medical Care Act of 1956 and the Military Medical Benefits Amendments of 1966. These acts allowed the Secretary of Defense to contract with civilian health care providers. This civilian health care program became known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) in 1966.[3]

text: In the late 1980s, because of escalating costs, paperwork demands, and general beneficiary dissatisfaction, DoD initiated a series of demonstration projects. Under a program known as the CHAMPUS Reform Initiative (CRI), a contractor provided both health care and administrative-related services, including claims processing. The CRI project was one of the first to introduce managed care features to the CHAMPUS program. Beneficiaries under CRI were offered three choices – a health maintenance organization-like option called Tricare (CHAMPUS) Prime that required enrollment and offered enhanced benefits and low-cost shares, a preferred provider organization-like option called Tricare (CHAMPUS) Extra that required use of network providers in exchange for lower cost shares, and the standard CHAMPUS option that continued the freedom of choice in selecting providers but required higher cost shares and deductibles known as Tricare Standard.

text: Although DOD’s initial intent under CRI was to award three competitively bid contracts covering six states, only one bid, made by Foundation Health Corporation (now Health Net) covering California and Hawaii, was received. Foundation delivered services under this contract between August 1988 and January 1994.

text: In late 1993, in response to requirements in the DOD Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1994, the DoD announced plans for implementing a nationwide managed care program for the MHS that would be completely implemented by May 1997. Under this program, known as Tricare, the United States was divided into 12 health care regions. An administrative organization, the lead agent, was designated for each region and coordinated the health care needs of all military treatment facilities in the region. Under Tricare, seven managed care support contracts were awarded covering DOD’s 12 health care regions.[4]

text: Since then, Tricare has undergone several restructuring initiatives, including re-alignment of contract regions, Base Realignment and Closure, and the addition of "Tricare for Life" benefits in 2001 for those who are Medicare-eligible, and "Tricare Reserve Select" in 2005.

text: Tricare's options[edit]

text: Tricare Standard[edit]

text: Tricare Standard provides a similar benefit to the original CHAMPUS program and is available to retirees from the Active Component, retirees from the Reserve Component age 60 or older, and their eligible family members. Tricare Standard is also available to Reservist and their family under the Tricare Reserve Select Component. Under Tricare Standard, beneficiaries can use any civilian health care provider that is payable under Tricare regulations. The beneficiary is responsible for payment of an annual deductible and coinsurance, and may be responsible for certain other out-of-pocket expenses. There is no enrollment fee for Tricare Standard.

text: Tricare Extra[edit]

text: Tricare Standard beneficiaries can elect to use the Tricare Extra option by using a civilian health care provider from within the regional contractor's provider network. In this way, Tricare Extra represents a preferred provider organization (PPO). When using Tricare Extra, the beneficiary's coinsurance amount is reduced by at least five percentage points. There is no fee for use of the Tricare Extra benefit other than the coinsurance.

text: Tricare Prime[edit]

text: Tricare Prime is a health maintenance organization (HMO) style plan available to active duty personnel, retirees from the Active Component, retirees from the Reserve Component age 60 or older, and their eligible family members. Under Tricare Prime, beneficiaries must choose a primary care physician and obtain referrals and authorizations for specialty care. In return for these restrictions, beneficiaries are responsible only for small copayments for each visit (retirees and their families only). There is an annual enrollment fee for Tricare Prime for military retirees and their family members. There is no enrollment fee for active duty military and their family members. The majority of Tricare PRIME enrollees must exclusively use the MTF (Military Treatment Facility) to receive their care, as long as the MTF has capacity. If the MTF does not have capacity, the commander of the MTF notifies the region's contractor and the contractor's provider network is used to supplement the MTF's capacity. If the MTF regains capacity, the MTF reserves the right to move the beneficiaries back to receiving their care at the MTF in a process known as "recapture."

text: US Family Health Plan[edit]

text: US Family Health Plan, a Tricare Prime-sponsored health plan option, is made available by nonprofit health care providers in the Northeast U.S., Southeast Texas/Southwest Louisiana, and the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

text: Tricare Reserve Select (TRS)[edit]

text: Tricare Reserve Select is a premium-based health plan that active status qualified National Guard and Reserve members may purchase. The classification is sometimes referred to as Tricare Reserve Component (RC). It requires a monthly premium and offers coverage similar to Tricare Standard and Extra for the military member and eligible family members. It has a partial premium cost sharing arrangement with DoD similar to civilian private or public sector employer plans, although typically at a lower cost than civilian plans. The program coverage is available worldwide to Selected Reserve (SELRES) members of both the Title 10 USC Federal Reserve Components (Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve), Title 14 USC Federal Reserve Component (Coast Guard Reserve) and the Title 32 National Guard (Army National Guard and Air National Guard) in a drill pay (also known as "paid") status. As of February 2008, retired Reserve Component personnel under the age of 60, actively drilling Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) personnel in a non-paid status, or actively drilling Volunteer Training Unit (VTU) personnel in a non-paid status do not qualify for TRS. IRR and VTU members are eligible for reinstatement under TRS is they return to a SELRES status. Reserve Component personnel who are also Federal civil servants (to include Army Reserve Technicians and Air Reserve Technicians (ART) in the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard) and eligible for the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) are also excluded from TRS. Retired Reserve Component personnel and eligible dependent family members become eligible Tricare Standard, Tricare Extra or Tricare Prime on the service member's 60th birthday in the same manner as Active Component retirees and their eligible dependents are eligible immediately upon retirement from active service. Qualification questions should be referred to Tricare.

text: Tricare Reserve Retired (TRR)[edit]

text: Tricare Reserve Retired is a premium-based health plan that qualified retired members of the National Guard and Reserve under the age of 60 may purchase for themselves and eligible family members. Established in 2008 and opened for enrollment in 2010, it is similar to Tricare Reserve Select (TRS), but differs in that there is no premium cost-sharing with DoD as there is with TRS. As such, retired Reserve Component members who elect to purchase TRR must pay the full cost (100%) of the calculated premium plus an additional administrative fee. Payments could range as high as $900.00 a month. Although open to all eligible retired Reserve Component personnel under the age of 60, the program's principal focus is often perceived as being focused on recent Reserve Component retirees who are self-employed or otherwise ineligible for civilian employer provided/subsidized health insurance, especially those who were mobilized for full-time active duty service subsequent to 11 September 2001 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn and/or Noble Eagle. Retired Reserve Component personnel who elect to participate in TRR will exit TRR when the service member reaches age 60 and he/she and their eligible dependent family members become eligible for the same Tricare Standard, Tricare Extra or Tricare Prime options as Active Component retirees and, in the case of Tricare Prime, at the same cost as Active Component retirees. Qualification questions should be referred to Tricare.

text: Tricare for Life (TFL)[edit]

text: Tricare for Life was first incorporated as part of the then-seven regional Managed Care Support Contracts of Tricare in May 2001. The benefit was enacted by Congress in response to growing complaints from beneficiaries that as Medicare out of pocket costs increased a benefit was needed to pay these costs in lieu of Tricare retirees being required to purchase Medicare Supplemental Coverage to pay for prescriptions, physician and hospital dispensed drugs, cost shares and deductibles. Before Tricare for Life, Tricare beneficiaries immediately lost Tricare coverage upon attaining Medicare eligibility at age 65, placing them at the same level of coverage as U.S. citizens who had never served full 20 to 30-plus year careers in the armed forces. This included becoming Medicare eligible due to disability. Tricare for Life is designed to pay patient liability after Medicare payments. There is no enrollment necessary for Tricare for Life and to be eligible, members must be Tricare and Medicare Eligible and have purchased Medicare Part B coverage. An exception to the requirement for Part B coverage exists when the beneficiary that is Medicare eligible is the spouse of an Active Duty Service Member. In some instances Tricare for Life is primary payer when the services are normally a Tricare benefit but not covered by Medicare. This includes drug charges, when Medicare benefit limits are attained and services performed outside the United States or in a Veterans Affairs facility where Medicare does not pay. TFL does not pay patient liability for services that are not a Tricare benefit even though they may be paid by Medicare, such as chiropractic benefits. The policy limitations applying to Tricare also apply to TFL and must therefore be deemed medically necessary and skilled care. Custodial care therefore is not covered. In 2004 the Tricare for Life benefit was transferred from the individual regional Tricare contractors. Medical claims are processed by the national Tricare Dual Eligible Fiscal Intermediary Contractor (TDEFIC-Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation). Pharmacy claims are processed by the Tricare Pharmacy Contractor (Express Scripts) and Overseas TFL claims are processed by the Tricare Overseas Program Contractor (as of September 2010 this will be International SOS using Wisconsin Physicians Service as their Fiscal Intermediary partner).

text: Tricare Young Adult (TYA)[edit]

text: Tricare Young Adult (TYA) is a premium-based health care plan available for purchase by qualified dependents who have aged out of Tricare at age 21, or age 23 for full-time college students. Dependents are eligible if they are unmarried, not eligible for either Tricare coverage or their own employer-sponsored health care coverage, and their sponsor is Tricare eligible.[5]

text: Eligible dependents have the option to purchase Tricare Standard/Extra health coverage on a month-to-month basis. Purchased coverage includes medical and pharmacy benefits but does not include dental. A premium-based Tricare Prime benefit was to be available later in 2011.[citation needed]

text: The signing of the National Defense Authorization Act in January 2011 aligned Tricare with the provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and led to the creation of TYA.[6] Enrollment began on 1 May 2011.[7]

text: Tricare Supplement[edit]

text: In addition to the Tricare options listed above, military retirees can opt for a Tricare supplement plan. Tricare supplement was designed to help military retirees and their families save money on unexpected out of pocket expenses that are not covered by Tricare. Out of pocket costs that may be alleviated by Tricare supplement can include specialists, surgeries, and hospital stays. The Tricare supplement plan can be beneficial for Tricare standard beneficiaries who are covered under a 75/25 plan that does not cover all expenses in the event of an unexpected illness or accident. [8]

text: Program administration[edit]

text: The ultimate responsible organization for administration of Tricare is the U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System, which organized the Tricare Management Activity (TMA). The Tricare Management Activity contracts with several large health insurance corporations to provide claims processing, customer service and other administrative functions to the Tricare program.

text: Basic structure[edit]

text: Currently, there are three regional Managed Care Support Contractors (MCSCs), a Medicare/Tricare Dual Eligible Fiscal Intermediary Contractor (TDEFIC), and a Tricare Pharmacy contractor, who administers both Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) and Retail Pharmacy (TRRx) programs. In addition several administrative contractors provide quality management, auditing, and statistical services.

text: Dental insurance[edit]

text: TMA contracts and administers a couple of dental programs.

text:
United Concordia Dental – as Tricare Dental Program (TDP)
Delta Dental – as Tricare Retiree Dental Program (TRDP)

tag: ul

text: Health insurance[edit]

text: In 2004, Tricare Management Activity re-aligned the previous twelve regions into three large regions, known as Tricare North, Tricare South, and Tricare West. Services in these regions are provided by:

text:
North – Health Net Federal Services, LLC The North Region includes Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and portions of Iowa (Rock Island Arsenal area), Missouri (St. Louis area) and Tennessee (Ft. Campbell area).
South – Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. The South Region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee (excluding the Ft. Campbell area) and Texas (excluding the El Paso area).
West – United Healthcare The West Region includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa (excluding Rock Island Arsenal area), Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri (except the St. Louis area), Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas (the southwestern corner, including El Paso), Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

text: All medical claims are processed ("adjudicated") by the following claims processing sub-contractors:

text:
North, South and West – PGBA, LLC (a subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina)
Tricare Overseas claims and Tricare for Life – Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation

text: In 2009, the Tricare Overseas Program contract consolidated the following:

text:
Overseas enrollment
Tricare Overseas claims processing
Three area Tricare Service Center contracts
Tricare Global Remote Overseas (TGRO)
Tricare Puerto Rico Prime

text: In October 2009 International SOS Assistance, Inc. was awarded the contract to provide comprehensive health care support services to the Department of Defense Tricare Overseas Program.

text: Effective January 1, 2018 the Tricare regions were consolidated into two large regions, Tricare East and Tricare West. Services in these regions are provided by:

text:
East – Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. The East Region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia,Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,Mississippi New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and portions of Iowa (Rock Island Arsenal area), Missouri (St. Louis area) and Texas (excluding the El Paso area)..
West – Health Net Federal Services, LLC  The West Region includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa (excluding Rock Island Arsenal area), Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri (except the St. Louis area), Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas (the southwestern corner, including El Paso), Utah, Washington and Wyoming.


document_title: Akkadian Empire

question_text: based on the map which civilization controlled the city of uruk in 2300 bce

text: Akkadian Empire

text: History of research[edit]

text: The Bible refers to Akkad in Genesis 10:10[9], which states that the beginning of Nimrod's kingdom was in the land of Akkad. Nimrod's historical identity is unknown, but some have compared him with the legendary Gilgamesh, founder of Uruk.[10][11] Today, scholars have documented some 7,000 texts from the Akkadian period, written in both Sumerian and Akkadian. Many later texts from the successor states of Assyria and Babylonia also deal with the Akkadian Empire.[11]

text: Understanding of the Akkadian Empire continues to be hampered by the fact that its capital Akkad has not yet been located, despite numerous attempts.[12][13] Precise dating of archaeological sites is hindered by the fact that there are no clear distinctions between artifact assemblages thought to stem from the preceding Early Dynastic period, and those thought to be Akkadian. Likewise, material that is thought to be Akkadian continues to be in use into the Ur III period.[14]

text: Many of the more recent insights on the Akkadian Empire have come from excavations in the Upper Khabur area in modern northeastern Syria which was to become a part of Assyria after the fall of Akkad. For example, excavations at Tell Mozan (ancient Urkesh) brought to light a sealing of Tar'am-Agade, a previously unknown daughter of Naram-Sin, who was possibly married to an unidentified local endan (ruler).[15] The excavators at nearby Tell Leilan (ancient Shekhna/Shubat-Enlil) have used the results from their investigations to argue that the Akkadian Empire came to an end due to a sudden drought, the so-called 4.2 kiloyear event.[16] The impact of this climate event on Mesopotamia in general, and on the Akkadian Empire in particular, continues to be hotly debated.[17]

text: Excavation at the modern site of Tell Brak has suggested that the Akkadians rebuilt a city ("Brak" or "Nagar") on this site, for use as an administrative center. The city included two large buildings including a complex with temple, offices, courtyard, and large ovens.[18][19]

text: Dating and periodization[edit]

text: The Akkadian Period is generally dated to either: c. 2334 BC – c. 2154 BC (according to the middle chronology timeline of the Ancient Near East), or c. 2270 BC – c. 2083 BC (according to the short chronology timeline of the Ancient Near East.) It was preceded by the Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia (ED) and succeeded by the Ur III Period, although both transitions are blurry. For example: it is likely that the rise of Sargon of Akkad coincided with the late ED Period and that the final Akkadian kings ruled simultaneously with the Gutian kings alongside rulers at the city-states of both: Uruk and Lagash. The Akkadian Period is contemporary with: EB IV (in Israel), EB IVA and EJ IV (in Syria), and EB IIIB (in Turkey.)[11][20]

text: Timeline of rulers[edit]

text: The relative order of Akkadian kings is clear. The absolute dates of their reigns are approximate (as with all dates prior to the late Bronze Age collapse c. 1200 BC).[21]

text:
Ruler
Middle Chronology
All dates BC
Short Chronology
All dates BC

Sargon
2334–2279

Rimush
2278–2270

Manishtushu
2269–2255

Naram-Sin
2254–2218

Shar-Kali-Sharri
2217–2193

Interregnum
2192–2190

Dudu
2189–2169

Shu-turul
2168–2154

text: Development of the empire[edit]

text: Pre-Sargonic Akkad[edit]

text: The Akkadian Empire takes its name from the region and city of Akkad, both of which were localized in the general confluence area of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Although the city of Akkad has not yet been identified on the ground, it is known from various textual sources. Among these is at least one text predating the reign of Sargon. Together with the fact that the name Akkad is of non-Akkadian origin, this suggests that the city of Akkad may have already been occupied in pre-Sargonic times.[12][22]

text: Sargon of Akkad[edit]

text: Sargon of Akkad (Sharru-kin = "legitimate king", possibly a title he took on gaining power) defeated and captured Lugal-zage-si in the Battle of Uruk and conquered his empire. The earliest records in the Akkadian language date to the time of Sargon. Sargon was claimed to be the son of La'ibum or Itti-Bel, a humble gardener, and possibly a hierodule, or priestess to Ishtar or Inanna. One legend related of Sargon in Assyrian times says that

text: My mother was a changeling, my father I knew not. The brothers of my father loved the hills. My city is Azurpiranu (the wilderness herb fields), which is situated on the banks of the Euphrates. My changeling mother conceived me, in secret she bore me. She set me in a basket of rushes, with bitumen she sealed my lid. She cast me into the river which rose not over me. The river bore me up and carried me to Akki, the drawer of water. Akki, the drawer of water, took me as his son and reared me. Akki the drawer of water, appointed me as his gardener. While I was gardener Ishtar granted me her love, and for four and (fifty?) ... years I exercised kingship.[23]

text: Later claims made on behalf of Sargon were that his mother was an "entu" priestess (high priestess). The claims might have been made to ensure a descendancy of nobility, considering only a high placed family can be made such a position.[24]

text: Originally a cupbearer (Rabshakeh) to a king of Kish with a Semitic name, Ur-Zababa, Sargon thus became a gardener, responsible for the task of clearing out irrigation canals. This gave him access to a disciplined corps of workers, who also may have served as his first soldiers. Displacing Ur-Zababa, Sargon was crowned king, and he entered upon a career of foreign conquest.[25] Four times he invaded Syria and Canaan, and he spent three years thoroughly subduing the countries of "the west" to unite them with Mesopotamia "into a single empire".

text: However, Sargon took this process further, conquering many of the surrounding regions to create an empire that reached westward as far as the Mediterranean Sea and perhaps Cyprus (Kaptara); northward as far as the mountains (a later Hittite text asserts he fought the Hattian king Nurdaggal of Burushanda, well into Anatolia); eastward over Elam; and as far south as Magan (Oman) — a region over which he reigned for purportedly 56 years, though only four "year-names" survive. He consolidated his dominion over his territories by replacing the earlier opposing rulers with noble citizens of Akkad, his native city where loyalty would thus be ensured.[26]

text: Trade extended from the silver mines of Anatolia to the lapis lazuli mines in modern Afghanistan, the cedars of Lebanon and the copper of Magan. This consolidation of the city-states of Sumer and Akkad reflected the growing economic and political power of Mesopotamia. The empire's breadbasket was the rain-fed agricultural system of Assyria and a chain of fortresses was built to control the imperial wheat production.

text: Images of Sargon were erected on the shores of the Mediterranean, in token of his victories, and cities and palaces were built at home with the spoils of the conquered lands. Elam and the northern part of Mesopotamia (Assyria/Subartu) were also subjugated, and rebellions in Sumer were put down. Contract tablets have been found dated in the years of the campaigns against Canaan and against Sarlak, king of Gutium. He also boasted of having subjugated the "four quarters" — the lands surrounding Akkad to the north (Assyria), the south (Sumer), the east (Elam), and the west (Martu). Some of the earliest historiographic texts (ABC 19, 20) suggest he rebuilt the city of Babylon (Bab-ilu) in its new location near Akkad.[27]

text: Sargon, throughout his long life, showed special deference to the Sumerian deities, particularly Inanna (Ishtar), his patroness, and Zababa, the warrior god of Kish. He called himself "The anointed priest of Anu" and "the great ensi of Enlil" and his daughter, Enheduanna, was installed as priestess to Nanna at the temple in Ur.

text: Troubles multiplied toward the end of his reign. A later Babylonian text states:

text: In his old age, all the lands revolted against him, and they besieged him in Akkad (the city) [but] he went forth to battle and defeated them, he knocked them over and destroyed their vast army.

text: It refers to his campaign in "Elam", where he defeated a coalition army led by the King of Awan and forced the vanquished to become his vassals.[28]

text: Also shortly after, another revolt took place:

text: the Subartu (mountainous tribes of Assyria) the upper country—in their turn attacked, but they submitted to his arms, and Sargon settled their habitations, and he smote them grievously.

text: Rimush and Manishtushu[edit]

text: Sargon had crushed opposition even at old age. These difficulties broke out again in the reign of his sons, where revolts broke out during the nine-year reign of Rimush (2278–2270 BC), who fought hard to retain the empire, and was successful until he was assassinated by some of his own courtiers. Rimush's elder brother, Manishtushu (2269–2255 BC) succeeded him. The latter seems to have fought a sea battle against 32 kings who had gathered against him and took control over their pre-Arab country, consisting of modern-day United Arab Emirates and Oman. Despite the success, like his brother he seems to have been assassinated in a palace conspiracy.[29]

text: Naram-Sin[edit]

text: Manishtushu's son and successor, Naram-Sin (2254–2218 BC), due to vast military conquests, assumed the imperial title "King Naram-Sin, king of the four quarters" (Lugal Naram-Sîn, Šar kibrat 'arbaim), the four quarters as a reference to the entire world. He was also for the first time in Sumerian culture, addressed as "the god (Sumerian = DINGIR, Akkadian = ilu) of Agade" (Akkad), in opposition to the previous religious belief that kings were only representatives of the people towards the gods.[31][32] He also faced revolts at the start of his reign,[33] but quickly crushed them.

text: Naram-Sin also recorded the Akkadian conquest of Ebla as well as Armanum and its king.[34] Armanum location is debated; it is sometimes identified with a Syrian kingdom mentioned in the tablets of Ebla as Armi, the location of Armi is also debated; while historian Adelheid Otto identifies it with the Citadel of Bazi – Tall Banat complex on the Euphrates River between Ebla and Tell Brak,[35][36] others like Wayne Horowitz identify it with Aleppo.[37] Further, if most scholars place Armanum in Syria, Michael C. Astour believes it to be located north of the Hamrin Mountains in northern Iraq.[38]

text: To better police Syria, he built a royal residence at Tell Brak, a crossroads at the heart of the Khabur River basin of the Jezirah. Naram-Sin campaigned against Magan which also revolted; Naram-Sin "marched against Magan and personally caught Mandannu, its king", where he instated garrisons to protect the main roads. The chief threat seemed to be coming from the northern Zagros Mountains, the Lulubis and the Gutians. A campaign against the Lullubi led to the carving of the "Victory Stele of Naram-Suen", now in the Louvre. Hittite sources claim Naram-Sin of Akkad even ventured into Anatolia, battling the Hittite and Hurrian kings Pamba of Hatti, Zipani of Kanesh, and 15 others. This newfound Akkadian wealth may have been based upon benign climatic conditions, huge agricultural surpluses and the confiscation of the wealth of other peoples.[39]

text: The economy was highly planned. Grain was cleaned, and rations of grain and oil were distributed in standardized vessels made by the city's potters. Taxes were paid in produce and labour on public walls, including city walls, temples, irrigation canals and waterways, producing huge agricultural surpluses.[40]

text: In later Assyrian and Babylonian texts, the name Akkad, together with Sumer, appears as part of the royal title, as in the Sumerian LUGAL KI-EN-GI KI-URI or Akkadian Šar māt Šumeri u Akkadi,[41] translating to "king of Sumer and Akkad".[42] This title was assumed by the king who seized control of Nippur,[41] the intellectual and religious center of southern Mesopotamia.

text: During the Akkadian period, the Akkadian language became the lingua franca of the Middle East, and was officially used for administration, although the Sumerian language remained as a spoken and literary language. The spread of Akkadian stretched from Syria to Elam, and even the Elamite language was temporarily written in Mesopotamian cuneiform. Akkadian texts later found their way to far-off places, from Egypt (in the Amarna Period) and Anatolia, to Persia (Behistun).

text: Collapse[edit]

text: The empire of Akkad fell, perhaps in the 22nd century BC, within 180 years of its founding, ushering in a "Dark Age" with no prominent imperial authority until Third Dynasty of Ur. The region's political structure may have reverted to the status quo ante of local governance by city-states.[43]

text: Shu-Durul appears to have restored some centralized authority, however he was unable to prevent the empire eventually collapsing outright from the invasion of barbarian peoples from the Zagros Mountains known as the Gutians.

text: Little is known about the Gutian period, or how long it endured. Cuneiform sources suggest that the Gutians' administration showed little concern for maintaining agriculture, written records, or public safety; they reputedly released all farm animals to roam about Mesopotamia freely, and soon brought about famine and rocketing grain prices. The Sumerian king Ur-Nammu (2112–2095 BC) cleared the Gutians from Mesopotamia during his reign.

text: The Sumerian King List, describing the Akkadian Empire after the death of Shar-kali-shari, states:

text: Who was king? Who was not king? Irgigi the king; Nanum, the king; Imi the king; Ilulu, the king—the four of them were kings but reigned only three years. Dudu reigned 21 years; Shu-Turul, the son of Dudu, reigned 15 years. ... Agade was defeated and its kingship carried off to Uruk. In Uruk, Ur-ningin reigned 7 years, Ur-gigir, son of Ur-ningin, reigned 6 years; Kuda reigned 6 years; Puzur-ili reigned 5 years, Ur-Utu reigned 6 years. Uruk was smitten with weapons and its kingship carried off by the Gutian hordes.

text: However, there are no known year-names or other archaeological evidence verifying any of these later kings of Akkad or Uruk, apart from a single artifact referencing king Dudu of Akkad. The named kings of Uruk may have been contemporaries of the last kings of Akkad, but in any event could not have been very prominent.

text: In the Gutian hordes, (first reigned) a nameless king; (then) Imta reigned 3 years as king; Shulme reigned 6 years; Elulumesh reigned 6 years; Inimbakesh reigned 5 years; Igeshuash reigned 6 years; Iarlagab reigned 15 years; Ibate reigned 3 years; ... reigned 3 years; Kurum reigned 1 year; ... reigned 3 years; ... reigned 2 years; Iararum reigned 2 years; Ibranum reigned 1 year; Hablum reigned 2 years; Puzur-Sin son of Hablum reigned 7 years; Iarlaganda reigned 7 years; ... reigned 7 years; ... reigned 40 days. Total 21 kings reigned 91 years, 40 days.

text: The period between c. 2112 BC and 2004 BC is known as the Ur III period. Documents again began to be written in Sumerian, although Sumerian was becoming a purely literary or liturgical language, much as Latin later would be in Medieval Europe.[23]

text: One explanation for the end of the Akkadian empire is simply that the Akkadian dynasty could not maintain its political supremacy over other independently powerful city states.[45][43]

text: Drought[edit]

text: One theory associates regional decline at the end of the Akkadian period (and of the First Intermediary Period following the Old Kingdom in Ancient Egypt) was associated with rapidly increasing aridity, and failing rainfall in the region of the Ancient Near East, caused by a global centennial-scale drought.[46][47] Harvey Weiss et al. have shown "Archaeological and soil-stratigraphic data define the origin, growth, and collapse of Subir, the third millennium rain-fed agriculture civilization of northern Mesopotamia on the Habur Plains of Syria. At 2200 BC, a marked increase in aridity and wind circulation, subsequent to a volcanic eruption, induced a considerable degradation of land-use conditions. After four centuries of urban life, this abrupt climatic change evidently caused abandonment of Tell Leilan, regional desertion, and collapse of the Akkadian empire based in southern Mesopotamia. Synchronous collapse in adjacent regions suggests that the impact of the abrupt climatic change was extensive.".[16] Peter B. deMenocal, has shown "there was an influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on the stream flow of the Tigris and Euphrates at this time, which led to the collapse of the Akkadian Empire".[48]

text: Excavation at Tell Leilan suggests that this site was abandoned soon after the city's massive walls were constructed, its temple rebuilt and its grain production reorganised. The debris, dust and sand that followed show no trace of human activity. Soil samples show fine wind-blown sand, no trace of earthworm activity, reduced rainfall and indications of a drier and windier climate. Evidence shows that skeleton-thin sheep and cattle died of drought, and up to 28,000 people abandoned the site, seeking wetter areas elsewhere. Tell Brak shrank in size by 75%. Trade collapsed. Nomadic herders such as the Amorites moved herds closer to reliable water suppliers, bringing them into conflict with Akkadian populations. This climate-induced collapse seems to have affected the whole of the Middle East, and to have coincided with the collapse of the Egyptian Old Kingdom.[16]

text: This collapse of rain-fed agriculture in the Upper Country meant the loss to southern Mesopotamia of the agrarian subsidies which had kept the Akkadian Empire solvent. Water levels within the Tigris and Euphrates fell 1.5 metres beneath the level of 2600 BC, and although they stabilised for a time during the following Ur III period, rivalries between pastoralists and farmers increased. Attempts were undertaken to prevent the former from herding their flocks in agricultural lands, such as the building of a 180 km (112 mi) wall known as the "Repeller of the Amorites" between the Tigris and Euphrates under the Ur III ruler Shu-Sin. Such attempts led to increased political instability; meanwhile, severe depression occurred to re-establish demographic equilibrium with the less favourable climatic conditions.[49][50][51]

text: Richard Zettler has critiqued the drought theory, observing that the chronology of the Akkadian empire is very uncertain, and that available evidence is not sufficient to show its economic dependence on the northern areas excavated by Weiss and others. He also criticizes Weiss for taking Akkadian writings literally to describe certain catastrophic events.[52]

text: According to Joan Oates, at Tell Brak the soil "signal" associated with the drought lies below the level of Naram-Sin's palace. However, evidence

text: may suggest a tightening of Akkadian control following the Brak 'event', for example the construction of the heavily fortified 'palace' itself and the apparent introduction of greater numbers of Akkadian as opposed to local officials, perhaps a reflection of unrest in the countryside of the type that often follows some natural catastrophe.

text: Furthermore, Brak remained occupied and functional after the fall of the Akkadians.[53]

text: Government[edit]

text: The Akkadian government formed a "classical standard" with which all future Mesopotamian states compared themselves. Traditionally, the ensi was the highest functionary of the Sumerian city-states. In later traditions, one became an ensi by marrying the goddess Inanna, legitimising the rulership through divine consent.

text: Initially, the monarchical lugal (lu = man, gal =Great) was subordinate to the priestly ensi, and was appointed at times of troubles, but by later dynastic times, it was the lugal who had emerged as the preeminent role, having his own "é" (= house) or "palace", independent from the temple establishment. By the time of Mesalim, whichever dynasty controlled the city of Kish was recognised as šar kiššati (= king of Kish), and was considered preeminent in Sumer, possibly because this was where the two rivers approached, and whoever controlled Kish ultimately controlled the irrigation systems of the other cities downstream.

text: As Sargon extended his conquest from the "Lower Sea" (Persian Gulf), to the "Upper Sea" (Mediterranean), it was felt that he ruled "the totality of the lands under heaven", or "from sunrise to sunset", as contemporary texts put it. Under Sargon, the ensis generally retained their positions, but were seen more as provincial governors. The title šar kiššati became recognised as meaning "lord of the universe". Sargon is even recorded as having organised naval expeditions to Dilmun (Bahrain) and Magan, amongst the first organised military naval expeditions in history. Whether he also did in the case of the Mediterranean with the kingdom of Kaptara (possibly Cyprus), as claimed in later documents, is more questionable.

text: With Naram-Sin, Sargon's grandson, this went further than with Sargon, with the king not only being called "Lord of the Four Quarters (of the Earth)", but also elevated to the ranks of the dingir (= gods), with his own temple establishment. Previously a ruler could, like Gilgamesh, become divine after death but the Akkadian kings, from Naram-Sin onward, were considered gods on earth in their lifetimes. Their portraits showed them of larger size than mere mortals and at some distance from their retainers.[54]

text: One strategy adopted by both Sargon and Naram-Sin, to maintain control of the country, was to install their daughters, Enheduanna and Emmenanna respectively, as high priestess to Sin, the Akkadian version of the Sumerian moon deity, Nanna, at Ur, in the extreme south of Sumer; to install sons as provincial ensi governors in strategic locations; and to marry their daughters to rulers of peripheral parts of the Empire (Urkesh and Marhashe). A well documented case of the latter is that of Naram-Sin's daughter Tar'am-Agade at Urkesh.[55]

text: Records at the Brak administrative complex suggest that the Akkadians appointed locals as tax collectors.[56]

text: Economy[edit]

text: The population of Akkad, like nearly all pre-modern states, was entirely dependent upon the agricultural systems of the region, which seem to have had two principal centres: the irrigated farmlands of southern Iraq that traditionally had a yield of 30 grains returned for each grain sown and the rain-fed agriculture of northern Iraq, known as the "Upper Country."

text: Southern Iraq during Akkadian period seems to have been approaching its modern rainfall level of less than 20 mm (1 in) per year, with the result that agriculture was totally dependent upon irrigation. Before the Akkadian period the progressive salinisation of the soils, produced by poorly drained irrigation, had been reducing yields of wheat in the southern part of the country, leading to the conversion to more salt-tolerant barley growing. Urban populations there had peaked already by 2,600 BC, and demographic pressures were high, contributing to the rise of militarism apparent immediately before the Akkadian period (as seen in the Stele of the Vultures of Eannatum). Warfare between city states had led to a population decline, from which Akkad provided a temporary respite.[57] It was this high degree of agricultural productivity in the south that enabled the growth of the highest population densities in the world at this time, giving Akkad its military advantage.

text: The water table in this region was very high and replenished regularly—by winter storms in the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates from October to March and from snow-melt from March to July. Flood levels, that had been stable from about 3,000 to 2,600 BC, had started falling, and by the Akkadian period were a half-meter to a meter lower than recorded previously. Even so, the flat country and weather uncertainties made flooding much more unpredictable than in the case of the Nile; serious deluges seem to have been a regular occurrence, requiring constant maintenance of irrigation ditches and drainage systems. Farmers were recruited into regiments for this work from August to October—a period of food shortage—under the control of city temple authorities, thus acting as a form of unemployment relief. Gwendolyn Leick has[58] suggested that this was Sargon's original employment for the king of Kish, giving him experience in effectively organising large groups of men; a tablet reads, "Sargon, the king, to whom Enlil permitted no rival—5,400 warriors ate bread daily before him".[59]

text: Harvest was in the late spring and during the dry summer months. Nomadic Amorites from the northwest would pasture their flocks of sheep and goats to graze on the stubble and be watered from the river and irrigation canals. For this privilege, they would have to pay a tax in wool, meat, milk, and cheese to the temples, who would distribute these products to the bureaucracy and priesthood. In good years, all would go well, but in bad years, wild winter pastures would be in short supply, nomads would seek to pasture their flocks in the grain fields, and conflicts with farmers would result. It would appear that the subsidizing of southern populations by the import of wheat from the north of the Empire temporarily overcame this problem,[60] and it seems to have allowed economic recovery and a growing population within this region.

text: As a result, Sumer and Akkad had a surplus of agricultural products but was short of almost everything else, particularly metal ores, timber and building stone, all of which had to be imported. The spread of the Akkadian state as far as the "silver mountain" (possibly the Taurus Mountains), the "cedars" of Lebanon, and the copper deposits of Magan, was largely motivated by the goal of securing control over these imports. One tablet reads "Sargon, the king of Kish, triumphed in thirty-four battles (over the cities) up to the edge of the sea (and) destroyed their walls. He made the ships from Meluhha, the ships from Magan (and) the ships from Dilmun tie up alongside the quay of Agade. Sargon the king prostrated himself before (the god) Dagan (and) made supplication to him; (and) he (Dagan) gave him the upper land, namely Mari, Yarmuti, (and) Ebla, up to the Cedar Forest (and) up to the Silver Mountain".

text: Culture[edit]

text: Art[edit]

text: In art there was a great emphasis on the kings of the dynasty, alongside much that continued earlier Sumerian art. Little architecture remains. In large works and small ones such as seals, the degree of realism was considerably increased,[61] but the seals show a "grim world of cruel conflict, of danger and uncertainty, a world in which man is subjected without appeal to the incomprehensible acts of distant and fearful divinities who he must serve but cannot love. This sombre mood ... remained characteristic of Mesopotamian art..."[62]

text: Language[edit]

text: During the 3rd millennium BC, there developed a very intimate cultural symbiosis between the Sumerians and the Akkadians, which included widespread bilingualism.[4] The influence of Sumerian on Akkadian (and vice versa) is evident in all areas, from lexical borrowing on a massive scale, to syntactic, morphological, and phonological convergence.[4] This has prompted scholars to refer to Sumerian and Akkadian in the third millennium as a sprachbund.[4] Akkadian gradually replaced Sumerian as a spoken language somewhere around 2000 BC (the exact dating being a matter of debate),[5] but Sumerian continued to be used as a sacred, ceremonial, literary, and scientific language in Mesopotamia until the 1st century AD.[63]

text: Poet–priestess Enheduanna[edit]

text: Sumerian literature continued in rich development during the Akkadian period. Enheduanna, the "wife (Sumerian dam = high priestess) of Nanna [the Sumerian moon god] and daughter of Sargon"[64] of the temple of Sin at Ur, who lived c. 2285–2250 BC, is the first poet in history whose name is known. Her known works include hymns to the goddess Inanna, the Exaltation of Inanna and In-nin sa-gur-ra. A third work, the Temple Hymns, a collection of specific hymns, addresses the sacred temples and their occupants, the deity to whom they were consecrated. The works of this poet are significant, because although they start out using the third person, they shift to the first person voice of the poet herself, and they mark a significant development in the use of cuneiform. As poet, princess, and priestess, she was a personality who, according to William W Hallo, "set standards in all three of her roles for many succeeding centuries"[65]

text: In the Exultation of Inanna,

text: Enheduanna depicts Inanna as disciplining mankind as a goddess of battle. She thereby unites the warlike Akkadian Ishtar's qualities to those of the gentler Sumerian goddess of love and fecundity. She likens Inanna to a great storm bird who swoops down on the lesser gods and sends them fluttering off like surprised bats. Then, in probably the most interesting part of the hymn, Enheduanna herself steps forward in the first person to recite her own past glories, establishing her credibility, and explaining her present plight. She has been banished as high priestess from the temple in the city of Ur and from Uruk and exiled to the steppe. She begs the moon god Nanna to intercede for her because the city of Uruk, under the ruler Lugalanne, has rebelled against Sargon. The rebel, Lugalanne, has even destroyed the temple Eanna, one of the greatest temples in the ancient world, and then made advances on his sister-in-law.[66]

text: Curse of Akkad[edit]

text: Later material described how the fall of Akkad was due to Nara-Sin's attack upon the city of Nipper. When prompted by a pair of inauspicious oracles, the king sacked the E-kur temple, supposedly protected by the god Enlil, head of the pantheon. As a result of this, eight chief deities of the Anunnaki pantheon were supposed to have come together and withdrawn their support from Akkad.[67]

text: The kings of Akkad were legendary among later Mesopotamian civilizations, with Sargon understood as the prototype of a strong and wise leader, and his grandson Naram-Sin considered the wicked and impious leader (Unheilsherrscher in the analysis of Hans Gustav Güterbock) who brought ruin upon his kingdom.[69][70]

text: Technology[edit]

text: Tablets from the periods reads, "(From the earliest days) no-one had made a statue of lead, (but) Rimush king of Kish, had a statue of himself made of lead. It stood before Enlil; and it recited his (Rimush's) virtues to the idu of the gods". The copper Bassetki Statue, cast with the lost wax method, testifies to the high level of skill that craftsmen achieved during the Akkadian period.[71]

text: Achievements[edit]

text: The empire was bound together by roads, along which there was a regular postal service. Clay seals that took the place of stamps bear the names of Sargon and his son. A cadastral survey seems also to have been instituted, and one of the documents relating to it states that a certain Uru-Malik, whose name appears to indicate his Canaanite origin, was governor of the land of the Amorites, or Amurru as the semi-nomadic people of Syria and Canaan were called in Akkadian. It is probable that the first collection of astronomical observations and terrestrial omens was made for a library established by Sargon. The earliest "year names", whereby each year of a king's reign was named after a significant event performed by that king, date from Sargon's reign. Lists of these "year names" henceforth became a calendrical system used in most independent Mesopotamian city-states. In Assyria, however, years came to be named for the annual presiding limmu official appointed by the king, rather than for an event.