The populations of the fatherland of Abraham : a short account of the populations which came into contact with the Jews, and used the Cuneiform system of writing / by G. Bertin.

  • Bertin, Georges, 1848-1891.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The populations of the fatherland of Abraham : a short account of the populations which came into contact with the Jews, and used the Cuneiform system of writing / by G. Bertin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/120 (page 37)
    INDUSTRIES. SLAVERY. could be in ancient times. The configuration of Mesopotamia being favorable to a system of irrigation, the Babylonians seem to have made great use of canals, which brought the fertilising waters of the two great rivers through the plains. Several of their kings regarded the construction of canals as a glorious accom- plishment, for Babylonia, not having a river like the Nile, fertilizing of itself the cultivated land, the construdtion of canals was of the utmost importance. As among all nations of antiquity, the pro- gress of industry was nil, for the slaves were the machines used by manufacturers in all branches. Some were brought up as black- smiths, others as masons—in short, in everv branch of industry and trade. Large slave- owners used to have certain trades taueht to their slaves, whom they afterwards lent out on hire. This system was carried to a very great development. Some slaves were even brought up as scribes, sculptors, ivory-carvers, etc. The slave-market was principally supplied by wars, but slaves were reared and brought up by owners, just as horses are in our days; and this class was the most valuable, for it contain- ed the most accomplished slaves. As in Rome, freemen also could become slaves, for if they