The Amorites were the indigenous people of central inland and northern Syria. They spoke a Semitic language related to modern Hebrew. During the Early Bronze Age, Syria was dominated by powerful states such as those centred on Ebla, Carchemish and Mari. Enclosed behind large fortification walls, these cities had elaborate palace and temple buildings. They maintained close diplomatic and trading relations with cities in Mesopotamia to the east and south. This contact is reflected in their art and architecture which was often influenced by that of Mesopotamia. The cuneiform writing system was also adopted from southern Mesopotamia to write the local Semitic languages. In addition the Amorite city-states maintained trading links with Canaan and Egypt.

Ebla was destroyed around 2300 BC, possibly as part of the military expansion of the kings of Akkad from southern Mesopotamia. By the end of the period climatic changes may have hastened the collapse of city life in Syria. By this time it is clear that many Amorites had settled throughout Mesopotamia and their distinctive names first appear in texts as soldiers and workers in the empires of Akkad (about 2340-2154 BC) and Ur III (about 2112-2004 BC). By 1900 BC dynasties of Amorite rulers had come to control many cities from the Levant to southern Mesopotamia.