“Assyriologists have found that from the beginning of recorded history in the Near East, it was normal for new rulers to proclaim a debt amnesty upon taking the throne. Instead of blowing a trumpet, the ruler “raised the sacred torch” to signal the amnesty. It is now understood that these rulers were not being utopian or idealistic in forgiving debts. The alternative would have been for debtors to fall into bondage. Kingdoms would have lost their labor force, since so many would be working off debts to their creditors. Many debtors would have run away, and communities would have been prone to attack from without.”
Assyrië zorgde liever dat de samenleving door kon draaien
Lees in dit artikel hoe Assyrië liever schuldamnestie gaf dan dat mensen in slavernij belandden.
