How societies evolved into fear-dominated goliaths – then collapsed
We think of ancient civilisations as operating very differently from the way our economy works today. Yet the Assyrians, around 3,000 years ago, began the basis of modern capitalism, in a region spanning most of modern-day Iraq, eastern Syria and southeastern Turkey.
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"Cuneiform writing, the oldest in the world, records evidence of credit, loans and debits as “virtual money” and the rise of elite merchants holding monopolies on trade. They traded Afghanistan tin from the city of Kanesh (in modern Turkey) throughout their empire, working as multinational corporations do today.
The Assyrian business community also had the first businesswomen and female investors. Generous tax breaks were given to merchants who promoted good business. The famous Code of Hammurabi reads like the fine print of a business deal, stating rules for granting credit and imposing taxes and tariffs on trade."
A farmer in Baghdida is growing a wide range of pepper varieties inside plastic greenhouses, part of an agricultural effort that community leaders say helps Nineveh Plain residents stay on their land.
Many Assyrian inventions were so advanced that we make use of them today in one way or another. People from the 21st century might not expect that daily life in such an ancient culture would include visiting a library, going to the doctor, or unlocking a storehouse with a key.
Armenia is the most homogenous country in the post-Soviet world, with 98% of its citizens identified as ethnic Armenians. Nevertheless, other ethnic groups live in the country, including Russians, Kurds, Greeks, Jews, Ukrainians and Assyrians.
Assyrian-American entrepreneur Merian Odesho has transformed a personal challenge into a global success story, founding the rapidly growing beauty brand Bounce Curl, now recognised as a leading name in curly hair care worldwide.
Two Swedish-Assyrian students in Sweden have captured national attention after winning a prestigious young scientist competition with an unconventional yet scientifically grounded project exploring the effects of rice water on hair health.
A farmer in Baghdida is growing a wide range of pepper varieties inside plastic greenhouses, part of an agricultural effort that community leaders say helps Nineveh Plain residents stay on their land.
As the debate over the mass repatriation of Syrian refugees intensifies, the Assyrian Christian community has voiced "profound concern" regarding recent calls to encourage, or even push, up to 80% of Syrians living in Germany to return to their homeland.
John Long
