society, institutions, law, and economy 63
hint at economically bad times with inflationary prices (Kai 215: 6) and
economically prosperous times with low prices (Kai 215: 9–10). a good
economic situation made it possible for the people to earn a living by
their work alone. they had enough to eat and drink (Kai 214: 9; 215: 9).
the economic situation differed from kingdom to kingdom and
depended upon several conditions: an optimal climate with enough rain,
the availability of mineral resources or other raw materials, the location
of overland trade routes, and the political situation. From the aramaean
inscriptions we read that in times of peace the population was able to
start a family or buy farmland (Kai 214: 10–11). Kulamuwa boasts of hav-
ing helped the muškabim (mškbm)181 climb economically and socially
(Kai 24: 11–13). King panamuwa i emphasized that under his rule the land
and the vineyards could be tilled (Kai 214: 5–7). King Bar-rakkab reports
that the economic situation for the people was better after panamuwa ii
voluntarily became a vassal of the assyrian king. with the King of ashur’s
help, it was possible to end the struggles for power and the throne.
Furthermore, times of peace were times of building projects. cities
could be extended and reinforced (Kai 214: 10). the kings of Samʾal legiti-
mized their building activities by claiming the gods had demanded them
(Kai 214: 13–15). in the past few decades, archaeological excavations have
made it possible to obtain a lot of information on economic activities in
different regions.182
the assyrian conquest of the aramaean states was decisive for the eco-
nomic situation in Syria. we have several references in assyrian sources
that show that many aramaeans were able to start careers in the service
of the assyrians especially as scribes or artisans.183 in addition, many
deportees were drafted into the assyrian army.184 the vassal states also
had to provide workers for assyrian building projects.185 in the aramaic
inscriptions of Samʾal as well as in the findings at various archaeologi-
cal excavations,186 it becomes obvious that economic activity did not
stagnate under assyrian dominion but rather partly increased. that does
not mean that the whole population participated in the economic profit.
181 cf. section 3.1, above.
182 See, for example, the results of the excavations of tell mishrife in the late iron age,
which make evident that the site and its surrounding area were an important center of the
textile industry in the kingdom of hamath. See morandi Bonacossi 2009 and infra 4.7.
183 Garelli 1982; tadmor 1982; dion 1997: 328; Görke 2004; Zehnder 2007: 432f; millard
2009.
184 Garelli 1982: 441–443 and tadmor 1982: 451.
185 dion 1997: 263 with n. 100.
186 e.g., on tell mishrife, see morandi Bonacossi 2009.