An investigation into Purchasing, Selling-Renting and loaning economic documents in ancient Elam

Subject Areas : Epistemological and methodological researcher of historical research

زهرا میراشه ¹ , kamal aldin niknami ² , بهمن فیروزمندی ³

1 - هیات علمی
2 - هیات علمی
3 - هیات علمی

Received: 2016-07-31 Accepted : 2017-02-18 Published : 2018-10-30

Keywords: loan, Susa, purchasing and selling, Elam,

Abstract :

Ancient Susa lay at the northwestern edge of the Khuzestan plain in the southwest of Iran. The Concentration on crops and harvesting consequently led to technological advancement and wealth accumulation. Gradually, as the result of unsuitable conditions and improper performance, starvation, violence and wars emerged in this area. Susiana plain was suitable for agricultural activities. Farm lands belonged either to the royal family and ruling class, temples or free farmers. Elam rulers had complicated and overwhelming responsibilities to maintain and improve agricultural products, or other matters such as observing irrigation systems, creating water canals and passing laws in this regard. Discovered documents from this period are relatively indicating the complicated social and economic relationships among different classes of the society which can shed light on the socio-economic structures in Elam society. Our current knowledge concerning the ancient economy of Elam as one of the main corner stones of the Elam culture formation comes from the written documents and limited archaeological evidences from Susiana excavations and Mesopotamian documents which are not sufficient enough to recreate the economical pattern of this era. In the present paper, we first analyze the role of agriculture in the economy of the Susiana plain as well as selling, purchasing and renting contracts of agricultural lands. Finally, the common system of collateral concerning agricultural lands will be discussed.