The Amorites, an influential ancient people, are referenced in two Sumerian literary compositions from the Old Babylonian period, "Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta" and "Lugalbanda and the Anzud Bird." These texts mention "the land of the mar.tu" and are linked to the Early Dynastic ruler of Uruk, Enmerkar, although the extent to which these reflect historical facts is uncertain.^[21]

During the decline of the Third Dynasty of Ur, the Amorites became a formidable force, compelling kings like Shu-Sin to construct a lengthy wall for defense. The Amorites are depicted in contemporary records as nomadic tribes under chiefs, who forced themselves into lands they needed to graze their herds. Akkadian literature from this era often depicts the Amorites negatively, highlighting their nomadic and primitive lifestyle. The Sumerian myth "Marriage of Martu" exemplifies this disparaging view.^{[22 ]}

They established several prominent city-states in existing locations, such as Isin, Larsa, Mari and Ebla and later founded Babylon and the Old Babylonian Empire in the south. In the east, the Amorite kingdom of Mari arose, later to be destroyed by Hammurabi. Key figures included Shamshi-Adad I, who conquered Assur and established the Kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia, and Hammurabi of Babylon. The Amorites also played a role in the Hyksos' establishment of the Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt around 1650 BCE.^{[23 ]}

By the 16th century BCE, the Amorite era in Mesopotamia concluded with the decline of Babylon and the rise of the Kassites and Mitanni. The term Amurru, from the 15th century BCE onwards, referred to a region extending north of Canaan to northern Syria. Eventually, the Syrian Amorites came under Hittite and Middle Assyrian domination, and by around 1200 BCE, they were absorbed by or displaced by other West Semitic-speaking peoples, notably the Arameans, and disappeared from history, though their name persisted in the Hebrew Bible.^[24]