Question

Why were mobile animal herders not necessarily a threat to town life?

Answer 1

To reach a conclusion, we need to consider the condition of Mari, a town upstream of the river Euphrates and the royal capital of Mesopotamia. Agriculture was the main source of revenue of the capital town. The countryside of this royal capital practised animal husbandry. While the town produced grains and cereals, the herders produced fur and other animal products. The production of both the blocs kept them mutually dependent on each other. The herders required grains and metal tools from the town and the city people required fur and other animal products from the animal herders. However, this exchange of goods between the two blocs was not very simple. This was because the people of Mari feared that the mobile animal herders might raid the agricultural town for the grains or even destroy the standing crops while moving their flocks. However, such fear could never threaten the town life because of the following reasons:

1. After the shepherds entered the town, they worked as herders, harvest labourers or hired soldiers. Taking up such professions in the town led the herders to give up their nomadic life. Moreover, as the herders started earning money, plundering wast, not intended and initiated.

2. When the herders entered the town for the exchange of goods, the rulers of Mari had strict vigilance over them. Such surveillance over the herders by the rulers of Mari prevented any kind of mishap.