The Merchants of Old Assyria: Trade and Commerce in Ancient Anatolia

💼The merchants of Old Assyria played a crucial role in the trade and commerce of ancient Anatolia, leveraging their commercial potential and geographic position.

🛒Tin and fine textiles were the main commodities traded by the Assyrian merchants, with tin being a strategic metal used in the production of bronze.

💰Commercial activities in Anatolia were subject to taxes and regulations, and Assyrian traders often looked for ways to bypass the taxman.

🚚Assyrian caravans, consisting of hundreds of donkeys carrying tin and textiles, faced risks from outlaws and brigands on the road.

⚔️The intensification of trade and commerce in Anatolia also led to territorial conflicts and wars among the Hatti kingdoms.

What were the main commodities traded by the Assyrian merchants?

—The main commodities traded by the Assyrian merchants were tin and fine textiles, with tin being a strategic metal used in the production of bronze.

What were the risks faced by Assyrian caravans on the road?

—Assyrian caravans faced risks from outlaws and brigands on the road, who would plunder their merchandise and potentially harm the caravan members.

How did Assyrian traders bypass taxes and regulations?

—Assyrian traders often took alternate routes and side roads to avoid the taxman. They would also employ smuggling tactics, such as concealing goods under their loincloths.

What impact did trade and commerce have on the Anatolian kingdoms?

—The intensification of trade and commerce in Anatolia led to territorial conflicts and wars among the Hatti kingdoms as they vied for control over trade routes and resources.

What led to the decline of the Assyrian trade network in Anatolia?

—The destruction of the city of Kanesh, a major Assyrian settlement, by the Hatti king of Zalpa led to the temporary cessation of Assyrian operations in Anatolia.

00:06The merchants of Old Assyria played a crucial role in the trade and commerce of ancient Anatolia, leveraging their commercial potential and geographic position.

04:26Tin and fine textiles were the main commodities traded by the Assyrian merchants, with tin being a strategic metal used in the production of bronze.

13:18Assyrian traders often took alternate routes and side roads to bypass taxes and regulations, facing risks from outlaws and brigands on the road.

19:46The intensification of trade and commerce in Anatolia led to territorial conflicts and wars among the Hatti kingdoms.

20:10The destruction of the city of Kanesh by the Hatti king of Zalpa temporarily halted Assyrian operations in Anatolia.