Old Assyrian trade in Anatolia constituted a complex and large-scale process. It is described in detail on thousands of tablets found at Kanesh (Kultepe). It is possible that there were other areas of Assyrian trade, or other contemporary networks belonging to other Mesopotamian or non-Mesopotamian centres, which experienced a similar development. However, these remain unattested. The commercial activities between Ashur and Kanesh therefore constitute our only opportunity to understand the way in which long distance trade was pursued at the time. The intensity and size of this trade allowed it to overcome the initial stage of mere movement of caravans, and led to the stable settlement of Assyrian merchants in Kanesh and in other Anatolian centres. Old Assyrian trade predominantly took place between the Assyrian merchants in Kanesh and their representatives in Ashur (Figure 12.4). Apart from these two main components, there were other important elements: a commercial network extending throughout Anatolia, located between the central karum of Kanesh and other minor commercial junctions; the organisation of production and infrastructure in Ashur; and the presence of intermediaries and agents who moved between the two main centres.
The karum (originally meaning ‘harbour’, but later applied to any commercial junction) was a structure and, in more concrete terms, a settlement located outside the local city. At Kultepe, where both the city and the karum were excavated, it is clear that there was a local city with a fortification wall and a palace. Outside of it, there was a district of Assyrian merchants. The karum had its own structure and role recognised both by the city of Ashur and the local kingdom. Its role was as guarantor of the operations pursued. It acted as a legal authority in disputes among merchants, or between merchants and locals, and as provider of financial compensations to pay taxes (both to the local city and the karum itself).
The karum had its own structure, general assembly and council. Moreover, a representative from the city of Ashur resided there. This indicates that at the heart of this type of settlement there was an official endorsement from Ashur. It is highly likely that, if we had documents from the palace, we would be able to see the network as a whole as ‘administered’ by the city, rather than the king. Unfortunately, we only have evidence on the private side of Assyrian trade. Merchants (tamkarum) probably had an official role. This was a result of their key role not only as administrators of large assets, but also as individuals originally endorsed by the state. Their main purpose was to manage and make a profit from this trade. In order to achieve this, merchants relied on agents, contractors and individuals in charge of transporting commodities.
This complex organisation is clearly visible from the complexity of the evidence that has been brought down to us. The texts fall into two main categories, namely, contracts and letters. These are two rather predictable categories considering the distance between the people involved and the long-term investment of large amounts of silver and goods. This situation was further complicated by the presence of a variety of individuals with precise functions within a structured system. Moreover, commercial interactions were influenced by minor, yet important, phenomena: from the use of the same caravan by various merchants, to the appearance of credits, contestations on the accuracy of calculations and so on.
Despite these complications, the typical procedure can be seen through three basic types of texts, each with their own sub-categories (Text 12.2). First of ah, there is the contract stipulated between the merchant from Kanesh and the caravaneer. This contract states the amount (in weighed silver) that the former entrusts to the latter. Moreover, it records the names of the representatives of the merchant at Ashur to whom the silver had to be delivered, and the caravaneer’s promise to return to Kanesh with the goods bought with the silver given to him, at Ashur. When the merchant was a high status individual involved in a large number of deals, the agreement was often pursued by a delegate from Kanesh. Consequently, there are contracts between the merchant and the delegate and between the delegate and the caravaneer. These
Figure 12.4 Old Assyrian trade. Above: A representation of the patterns of exchange; Below: Old Assyrian and Old Babylonian road network.
World History
