What can clay tablets reveal about the daily struggles of ancient Babylonian citizens?
In short: History often focuses on kings and gods, but thousands of clay tablets from ancient Babylonia offer a rare look at the lives of ordinary people. This talk examines the persistent challenges of debt and family conflict faced by the middle and lower classes around 1200 BC.
Assistant Professor of Assyriology Susanne Paulus explores the lives of non-elite individuals in Babylonia during the late second millennium BC. By analyzing a vast corpus of excavated clay tablets from the cities of Ur and Nippur, she shifts the historical lens away from rulers and deities to focus on the common citizen.
The research highlights that many societal pressures remain remarkably consistent across millennia. Specifically, the records detail how individuals navigated complex financial burdens and domestic disputes, providing a tangible connection to the daily realities of life in 1200 BC.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Susanne Paulus | Debts, Crime, and Prison: Daily Life in Babylonia CA. 1200 BC
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