The pioneers of domestic trade in Sumer in the late third millennium BC and their cuneiform archives

Abstract

The Sumer was politically known in the late third millennium BC during the Third Dynasty of Ur (2113-2004 BC), considered one of the most prominent ruling dynasties of Sumerian civilization the family paid great attention to business and constantly they worked to further expand businesses of both types (foreign and domestic). Another major feature of the economy of this period was the emergence of independent entrepreneurs who worked for themselves and had the title of merchants they had inherited from their parents and they left behind archival records and documents that have become available to researchers. This study describes the business activities of three of the most prominent merchants of the time, who were the leaders of the group they recorded their business activities in their own cuneiform archives, the basis of the study according to the archives that have been read and analyzed by several researchers in the field of ancient languages in the past few years, there is no doubt that the cuneiform records of that time are considered the best source for understanding and expertise being in different areas of civilization, especially the economic aspects of the country because 90% of the texts that so far, they have been found to be related to the economy in general and trade in particular.