River Trade and Leasing Practices in Mesopotamia According to Cuneiform Texts

Year 2025, Issue: 39, 387 - 405, 21.05.2025

Suzan Akkuş Mutlu , Burak Aktaş

https://doi.org/10.54600/igdirsosbilder.1617752

Abstract

In ancient Mesopotamia, river trade held great significance through transportation activities carried out via the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as well as artificial canals. Over time, the growing population and increasing trade volume brought various challenges. Individuals who wished to operate in trade and transportation but lacked sufficient capital, as well as those with adequate capital but insufficient manpower, sought to overcome these challenges through leasing. Moreover, this practice became a solution not only for individuals or families but also for institutions on occasion. For this reason, leasing became a widely used method. Leasing practices ensured the sustainability of commercial activities and provided a means for quick responses in urgent situations. In this study, leasing practices applied in river trade during the 1st millennium BCE in Mesopotamia were identified and evaluated in light of cuneiform sources. The importance of leasing practices in understanding the social and economic dynamics of Mesopotamia has been emphasized. Additionally, the conclusions drawn from rental fees aim to provide a new perspective on this period.

Keywords

Mesopotamia , River Trade , Boat , Rent , Lease.

ÇİVİ YAZILI METİNLERE GÖRE MEZOPOTAMYA’DA NEHİR TİCARETİ ve KİRALAMA UYGULAMALARI

Abstract

Eski Mezopotamya'da nehir ticareti, Dicle ve Fırat nehirlerinin yanı sıra yapay kanallar aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilen taşımacılık faaliyetleriyle büyük bir öneme sahip olmuştur. Zamanla artan nüfus ve ticaret hacmi, çeşitli sorunları da beraberinde getirmiştir. Ticaret ve taşımacılık alanında faaliyet göstermek isteyen ancak yeterli sermayeye sahip olmayan bireyler ya da yeterli sermaye bulunduran fakat insan gücü eksikliği yaşayanlar, bu sorunları kiralama yoluyla aşmayı hedeflemiştir Üstelik, bu durum yalnızca bireylerin ya da ailelerin değil, zaman zaman kurumların da ihtiyaç duyduğu bir çözüm haline gelmiştir. Bu nedenle kiralama yöntemine başvurulmuştur. Kiralama uygulamaları hem ticari faaliyetlerin sürdürülebilirliğini sağlamış hem de acil durumlarda hızlı bir yanıt verme imkânı sunması açısından önemli bir araç olmuştur. Bu çalışmada, çivi yazılı kaynaklar ışığında MÖ I. binyıl Mezopotamya'sında nehir ticaretinde uygulanan kiralama işlemleri tespit edilerek değerlendirilmiştir. Mezopotamya’nın sosyal ve ekonomik dinamiklerini anlamada kiralama uygulamalarının önemi vurgulanmıştır. Ayrıca, kira bedelleri üzerinden yapılan çıkarımlar, bu döneme ilişkin yeni bir bakış açısı sunmayı hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

Mezopotamya , Nehir Ticareti , Tekne , Kira , Kiralamak.

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışmada etik beyan iznine gerek yoktur.

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