Bankers always bankers
- Sumer (Mesopotamia), c. Twenty-fourth century. King Urukagina of Lagash, as soon as he got power, began to carry out various reforms. Among other measures, it provided for the forgiveness of excessive debts and tax exemption for widows and orphans.
These measures show that in those first civilizations, as soon as surplus production was obtained, bureaucrats, taxes, debts, lenders and, therefore, the first banking activities appeared. And abuse as well.
A table written in cuneiform says: “Adakala has received from Urdulazaga a loan of 120 silver silices, with an interest of 5 out of 60. He shall refund the amount in the month of Siq.” Others were more distressed and had no choice but to accept higher interests: “Your son Irrara, from Ziyatum, has received a loan of 60 Uselli silver syrids, with an interest of 15 out of 60. He will refund the amount together with the next moon. The oath of the contract was made in the presence of Kalki and Adada, witnesses and gods.”
In this reality the temples were in perfect condition, as they housed surplus agricultural and livestock. Over time, they began to speculate with these surpluses, and the clergy, the kings and, in general, those who had the political and economic power, began to derive great benefits from these activities. Powerful families, from generation to generation, lended money with high interests, mediated in commercial businesses, kept and speculated on the goods of others for growing profits. We could say that then professional banking and banker dynasties emerged.
In 1893, while researchers at the University of Pennsylvania excavated in the city of Nippur, 900 clay planks were found. When the texts were translated they realized that in the planks there were accounts of three generations of the Murashu family of Babylon and of bureaucracy, indicating that in the ancient Mesopotamia there was at least one banker dynasty. The texts contain 2,500 customer names that add 60 commercial agents to the clay. They were also in contact with the territory of Elam or with the city of Susa.
In addition, the texts state that Murashutar before the fall of Babylon (in the 18th century BC). 539) were dedicated to banking and the Persians, headed by Cyrus el Grande, continued their activities after the conquest of the city, negotiating with the king. What is in power is that bankers continue to fill their pockets, and that has been the case since ancient times.
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