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History of the world economy - Polyak GB

3.2. Palestine

The emergence of the state, the development of the economy

In the southern part of the Eastern Mediterranean is Palestine. This name she received from the tribe of the Philistines (from the other Hebrews - pelishtim). In the III millennium BC. E. Palestine conquered the Egyptian pharaohs. In the XV-XIV centuries. BC. E. In these lands came tribes Habiri - ancient Jews.

Geographical, natural conditions and opportunities for human economic activity in Palestine were not the same. In the northern part of the country, in the valley of the Jordan River, there were good conditions for farming. The southern part of the country was occupied mainly by dry steppes, allowing only cattle breeding. In ancient times here sheep, goats, donkeys, cattle were domesticated.

Jews who had conquered Palestine for a long time were in the conditions of the clan system. The social cell (mishpaha) was based on blood relationship. The land, property, slaves belonged to the whole family, at the head of which stood the elder. In the society, the right of primogeniture and levirate functioned. The primogeniture provided the elder son with a privileged position in the family and the right to a double share of the inheritance of property. According to the custom of the levirate, the widow was to marry the brother of her deceased husband. These customs limited the dispersion of property of the genus and contributed to its concentration in individuals.

The earth also belonged to the clan, the community. Each community had its own chief and a priest (the Levite). The community had to buy out its members, if they were captured, together to carry out compulsory state obligations and work. Land plots within the community were distributed by lot. Even the king could not take the land from the community, but could only buy it. Once, King Ahaz took his land from one commune, but this deed of the king was declared illegal. The kings were able to increase their land and give out to their proxies, bureaucrats and commanders only at the expense of the lands seized during the wars.

For many centuries, Palestine was part of Egypt. XI-X centuries. BC. E. The weakening of Egypt allowed Palestine to free itself from its yoke. Here, independent states were formed. The first of these was the Israeli kingdom, founded by King Saul, who was proclaimed by the Israeli tribes to reign in the eleventh century. BC. E. The second kingdom - the Jewish formed in the early X century. BC. E. In the southern part of Palestine the son of Saul David. He united both kingdoms in a single Israel-Judah kingdom . The capital of this kingdom was the city of Jerusalem.

Agriculture

Already in the III millennium BC. E. The tribes in the northern part of the country moved to settled agriculture. Here, barley, wheat, millet, flax, oats were grown. In addition to the grain economy, horticulture was developed. The country was famous for growing grapes, fig trees, olives. Grenades grew well, and date palms in the south.

Around 3500 BC. E. Cultivation of olives began in Palestine. By means of long-term selection from the wild olive oil-rich varieties cultivated to this day are derived. Olive oil was used as a food product and for the production of medicines and cosmetics.

In many countries, Palestinian wine was also known. The image of the vine and bunches of grapes was the emblem of Judea and was minted on Hebrew coins.

Judea has been famous since ancient times for the cultivation of flax and the manufacture of linen fabrics. This is evidenced by linen products found in the cave of Nahal Hemer, whose age is 8500 years.

A well-designed irrigation system, despite the hot climate, made it possible to grow hygienic crops, such as flax. The remains of such a system of the first century are found in the Negev desert. BC. E. Rain water was collected in storage and sent to fields. Around the city Ovdet in an area of ​​80 km2 was built 17 thousand dams.

Crafts and Trade

Palestine did not have any significant minerals and forests. The raw material base for crafts was limited. There was a lot of stone and clay in the country. Therefore, the development of products from these materials has been greatly developed. Palestinian rockets and potters were known in the Middle East.

In the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula in the mines of the Negev in the II millennium BC. E. Extracted copper ore. In the X century. BC. E. Under King Solomon these mines reached 6 m in diameter and were connected by galleries. This is the world's first mine-gallery system for the development of copper ore.

Since ancient times, individual cities have specialized in the production of narrow-profile products. For example, the weaving centers were Jerusalem and Tel-Beit Mirisim. Fabrics were made from wool and flax. Outside the country, Palestinian patterned fabrics and clothing were valued.

Palestine became the birthplace of the glass-making business. The first products on the planet of blown glass, relating to the 50-ies. BC. E., Made in Jerusalem.

Already in the VII century. BC. E. In Palestine developed a technology for the production of writing material from camel skins, which was later named parchment.

Situated at the intersection of important trade routes between Egypt, northern and eastern countries, Palestine already in the III millennium BC. E. Actively joined the world trade. From the country exported leather, wheat, flax, olive oil, fruit, wine, wax, wool, ceramic products, purple, myrrh, medicines. Imported metal, metal vessels, wood, ivory.

The greatest economic development of the Israel-Jewish kingdom reached in the X century. BC. E. Under King Solomon. At that time, administrative reforms were carried out, the country was divided for convenience of administration into 12 districts, led by special officials who were also responsible for collecting taxes and fulfilling state obligations. Having strengthened peaceful ties with neighbors, Solomon developed foreign trade. He organized trade routes to Arabia, from which began to receive gold, ivory, precious stones. Grain and oil were exported abroad.

Cities. Building

Crafts and trade became the basis for the formation of numerous cities. The first cities on the planet appeared in Palestine about 10 thousand years ago. The oldest of them is Jericho. By the 7th millennium BC. E. It was a large fortress city with a population of 2,000 people at that time. The city was surrounded by a stone wall 9 m wide. In the center of the fortress stood a stone tower with a spiral staircase inside. Since III thousand there is a city Lahish. The oldest cities were Megido, Bet-Shan, Jerusalem.

The accumulation of wealth in the country allowed to conduct large-scale construction work. In Jerusalem, large palace rooms were built, a famous temple was built and richly decorated in honor of the god Yahweh, fortresses were erected in Jerusalem, Meguido, Geser and other cities.

The candelabrum from the temple of the god Yahweh in Jerusalem

After Solomon's death, his successor could not eliminate the accumulated long-standing contradictions between the rich agricultural north and the poor cattle-breeding south. Northern Israel was not satisfied with the large taxes that were redistributed in favor of the poor south - Judea. The rebellious Israel separated. In Palestine, there are two independent states. Israel and Judea again began to fight each other, leading to their weakening. Wars demanded money, and this led to increased tax oppression, impoverishment of the population and social movements in both states. All this was reflected in the first social literature - the books of the prophets. Prophets connected with the mass of the population in their sermons denounced the rich and the power for their wealth, greed and called for a return to the old patriarchal life.