Essay 2: Agricultural Management
This collection consists of three Old Babylonian letters related to agricultural activities. Babylonians were heavily dependant on agricultural staples such as barley, emmer, sesame, and dates. In addition, barley straw, sesame cakes and other roughage was used as fodder for large and small cattle, goats, and sheep. Because of the lack of rainfall in this area, agriculture was heavily dependant on irrigation. A great deal of labour, and a sophisticated administrative organization was necessary to maintain the elaborate system of canals.
Seeds for planting
Tell the boss: Šunuma-ilū sends the following message:
May the gods Šamaš and Marduk keep you in good health forever. Stay well, stay healthy! May your protective god allow only good things to happen to you. I am writ...
Liability for a dead ox
Tell Lugā: Sin-putram sends the following message: May the gods Enlil and Ninurta keep you in good health.
Lugatum moved his bulls to the fortified area in order to plant sesame, and my man Ubar-Lulu was going along with them as ox driver...
Stealing dates
Tell Nūr-Šamaš, Awēl-Adad, Sin-pilah, Sillī-Adad, and the overseer of the ten-man team: Šamaš-nāsir sends the following message: This is really a fine way of behaving! The orchardists keep breaking into the date sto...