Uruk Ch 3-5

These chapters of the book were very informative. I found it useful to learn about the type of economy that developed and how it grew and differed in the various regions. It was interesting to learn that barley was a main crop in Lower Mesopotamia because of its attributes. They include that “it matures very fast and it is very tolerant of saline solids”. It was also resistant to threats in growing conditions. Another aspect of the economy that was covered and I found captivating was how wealth was determined. It is interesting to note that depending on how much land or goods one was able to grow, one’s wealth was assigned. For example, if one had people work their fields, one was considered well off. On the other hand, if one was only able to grow enough food for oneself, one was poorer. Also, I found the explanation about why barley was such a fruitful staple compared to other goods, such as fruit and onions useful. The characteristic of not rotting or molding too quickly and ability to transport easily was important. Furthermore, I found the explanation about wool captivating. It explained a lot about traditions. For example, “children took the sheep to pasture, men sheared, [and] women and girls spun and wove. Liverani writes that women and children “were considered better fit for domestic activity”. I also found it significant to note how people were paid and goods were rationed. As Liverani explains, “the size of food rations corresponded in a very rough way to bodily weight, [so] they were less for women and children than for men”. In addition, it was engaging to read about the developments in the textile industry and how the specialization of crafts is “an element that qualifies, if not directly generates, the emergence of a socio-economic organization of the complex type”. In some communities, everyone grew their own goods, while in others, producers of food maintained specialists. Overall, these chapters contained a lot of useful information and encouraged me to consider different aspects of the area, including its economy and the factors that influenced it.