Final answer:
The primary motive of Sargon of Akkad's conquest of Sumer was the expansion of his empire, aiming to centralize control and extract wealth for the capital of Akkad, while also controlling lucrative trade routes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the motivations behind Sargon of Akkad's conquest of Sumer involves delving into both the political and economic aspects of the era. Around c. 2300 BCE, Sargon achieved considerable military success by unifying the regions of Akkad and Sumer, forming the world's first known empire. While reasons such as expansion and securing trade routes undeniably played a role, the final answer to the question would be B. Expansion of his empire. Sargon, who started as a royal gardener and eventually seized power, was driven by a vision of a centralized state that could efficiently extract and manage resources from conquered territories.
The establishment of a standing army was crucial in maintaining control of these regions. Sargon established Akkad near present-day Baghdad and appointed governors to administer the conquered cities. This centralization aimed to facilitate wealth extraction and circulation back to the capital, reinforcing the notion that imperial expansion was a primary motive. Moreover, controlling long-distance trade routes to regions like the Indus River valley would have been a significant benefit of such an empire, weighing in favor of the imperial expansion explanation.
While other factors, such as revenge for previous conflicts or religious reasons, might have contributed to the drive for conquest, primary accounts and archaeological evidence point towards the expansion of his empire and the associated economic and political benefits as the most compelling reasons for Sargon's campaigns.