الأسواق في العراق القديم (2800-539 ق. م)‎

Abstract EN

The study is an attempt to shed light on an important aspect of the economic life in Ancient Iraq, namely, the markets and thr trading processes which are carried in them and what follows of the role of the state in the organization of economic operation and activities in the markets in economic life in ancient Iraq relied on agriculture, industry and trade.

Consequently, there should have been places for trading products (agricultural, industrial and Commercial) to be exchanged through buying and selling.

As a result, markets were actually an important element of the economic life since they were the bases on which commercial exchange depended and their existence was a significant necessity for any human community.

The emergency of markets date back to the very start of the development of towns for the farmers from the country to get in contact with the merchants and craftsmen in the towns to exchange good and goods.

In the market the relationship was founded between the towns population and the fertile land around the town.

The paper falls into three major parts in the first of which we dealt unit the definition of the market, its division and the evidence of its existence in Ancient Iraq.

In the second part we discussed the geographical situation of the markets 1.

The city center (the urban nucleus).

2.

the suburbs (the urban textile).

The dwelling quarters and other facilities.

3.

Wall and ditches.

The thirs part was allocated to the role of the state is observing and following up the economic activities in the markets.

1- establishing a unified system of weights and measures.

2- Fixing prices.

3- appointing observers.

4- supervising the process of investment and money exchange.