The Making of a Scribe: Errors, Mistakes and Rounding Numbers in the Old Babylonian Kingdom of Larsa (Why the Sciences of the Ancient World Matter (4), Band 4)

Description

This book presents a novel methodology to study economic texts. The author investigates discrepancies in these writings by focusing on errors, mistakes, and rounding numbers. In particular, he looks at the acquisition, use, and development of practical mathematics in an ancient society: The Old Babylonian kingdom of Larsa (beginning of the second millennium BCE Southern Iraq). In so doing, coverage bridges a gap between the sciences and humanities. Through this work, the reader will gain insight into discrepancies encountered in economic texts in general and rounding numbers in particular. They will learn a new framework to explain error as a form of economic practice. Researchers and students will also become aware of the numerical and metrological basis for calculation in these writings and how the scribes themselves conceptualized value. This work fills a void in Assyriological studies. It provides a methodology to explore, understand, and exploit statistical data. The anlaysis also fills a void in the history of mathematics by presenting historians of mathematics a method to study practical texts. In addition, the author shows the importance mathematics has as a tool for ancient practitioners to cope with complex economic processes. This serves as a useful case study for modern policy makers into the importance of education in any economy. Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations Glosses for Assyriology List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction Abstract 1.1 The Book Structure and Technical Notes 1.2 An Overview of the Kingdom of Larsa, Past and Present 1.2.1 The Trouble with Chronology 1.2.2 The City of Larsa, Its Environs and Modern Archaeology 1.3 Current Trends in Assyriology 1.3.1 Archival Studies 1.3.2 Unity Out of Variety 1.3.3 Archives and the Parameters of Study 1.4 Mistakes and Errors—Preliminary Remarks 2 The Early Scribal Education Abstract 2.1 Systems of Quantification 2.1.1 Measurement Systems 2.1.2 Bridges and Other Connections Between Metrological Systems 2.1.3 Numerical Systems 2.2 Elementary Education in the Old Babylonian Period 2.2.1 Tablet Types 2.2.2 Metrological Lists and Tables in the Scribal Curriculum 2.2.3 Numerical Tables and Elementary Education 2.3 Conclusions 3 Text Types and Archival Practices in the Kingdom of Larsa Abstract 3.1 Text Layout and Structure 3.1.1 Tabular and Prosaic Layout 3.1.2 Single Transactions 3.1.3 Lists 3.1.4 Balanced Accounts 3.2 Conclusions 4 Archives, Bureaus and Management Systems in the Kingdom of Larsa Abstract 4.1 The Grain Storage Bureau 4.2 The Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 4.3 Grain Harvest Archive 4.4 Grain Production Archive(s) 4.5 Conclusions 5 Metrology and Sexagesimal Place Value Notation in Economic Texts Abstract 5.1 The Transparency of Economic Texts 5.2 Possible Sexagesimal Place Value Notation Basis for Calculations 5.3 Explicit Statements of Sexagesimal Place Value Notation 5.4 Conclusions 6 Errors, Mistakes and Evidence for a Counting Device Abstract 6.1 The Nature of Discrepancies 6.2 An Abacus? 6.2.1 Carrying in Other Texts 6.2.2 Evidence for Addition in Mathematical Texts 6.2.3 Abacus and Administrative Practice 6.3 Conclusions 7 Observation and the Limits of Numeracy Abstract 7.1 Breakdown of Trust and the Practice of Oversight 7.1.1 The Uniformity of Measurements and Measurement Values 7.1.2 Standard Variation 7.1.3 Changing Standards and Value Assessments 7.2 Measurement Inconsistency and Grain Transit 7.3 Production and Conception of Value 7.3.1 Below the Lower Limit: The Expert 7.3.2 Below the Lower Limit: The Novice 7.4 On Measurement Theory and Practice 7.5 Conclusions 8 Multiplication and Estimation Abstract 8.1 Revenue Rates 8.2 Equivalencies 8.2.1 Do Equivalencies Reflect a Calculation? 8.2.2 Equivalencies in the Mathematical Tradition 8.2.3 Equivalencies and Discrepancies 8.3 Estimation, Observation and Labor 8.3.1 Volume, Labor and Wages in Economic Texts 8.3.2 Volume, Labor and Wages in the Mathematical Tradition 8.3.3 Sexagesimal Place Value Notation, Volume and Labor 8.3.4 Sexagesimal Place Value Notation, Volume and Scribal Practice 8.3.5 Volume as an Observation of Labor 8.3.6 Labor as a Statement of Wages 8.4 Tabular Layout and Economization of Practice 8.5 Conclusions 9 Rounding in Mathematical and Economic Texts Abstract 9.1 Truncation of Measured and Calculated Values in Administrative Texts 9.2 Other Examples of Rounding Down in the Economic Texts 9.3 Rounding up in the Economic Texts 9.4 Rounding and Multiplication 9.5 Rate Approximations and the Uncertainty of Interpretation 9.6 Conclusions 10 Conclusion: On Errors, Rounding and Education in the Kingdom of Larsa Abstract Appendix 1 Texts 1.A Economic Texts 1.A.a 1.A.b 1.B Mathematical Texts Appendix 2 Numeracy by Scribe 2.A Scribe A 2.B Lu-igisa—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.C Scribe B 2.D Ilšu-ibbišu 2.E Scribe C 2.F Scribe D 2.G Gimillum—Grain Storage Bureau 2.H Itti-Sîn-milki 2.I Šamaš-aššu-aplu—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.J Nabi-Šamaš A—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.K Šulpae-nāṣir and Ilī-ippalsam 2.L Ubār-Šamaš—Grain Storage Bureau 2.M Scribe E—Grain Storage Bureau 2.N Uncertain Scribes—Grain Storage Bureau 2.O Sîn-māgir—Grain Storage Bureau 2.P Ṣillī-Šamaš—Grain Storage Bureau 2.Q Sîn-errēš—Grain Storage Bureau 2.R Scribe F—Grain Storage Bureau 2.S Scribe G—Possibly Grain Storage Bureau 2.T Šēp-Sîn A 2.U Scribe H 2.V Scribe I—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.W Scribe J 2.X Scribe K 2.Y Scribe L—Grain Harvest Archive 2.Z Scribe M—Grain Harvest Archive 2.AA Immer-ilī—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.BB Sîn-iddinam 2.CC Sîn-rāmā 2.DD Scribe N 2.EE Aḫūšunu 2.FF Scribe O—Grain Production Archive 2.GG Scribe P—Grain Production Archive 2.HH Nabi-Šamaš B 2.II Scribe Q—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.JJ Zinnu 2.KK Šēp-Sîn B 2.LL Sîn-muštāl 2.MM Abu-waqar 2.NN Ilīma-abī 2.OO Iddin-Ištar 2.PP Aḫiya 2.QQ Issu-nar-… 2.RR Scribe R—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation 2.SS Scribe S 2.TT Scribe T 2.UU Conclusions Appendix 3 Metrological and Numerical List and Table Catalogue 3.A Metrological Texts 3.A.a Capacity 3.A.b Weight 3.A.c Area 3.A.d Length 3.A.e Height 3.B Numerical Tables 3.B.a Reciprocals 3.B.b Multiplication 3.B.c Squares 3.B.d Square Roots 3.B.e Cube Roots Appendix 4 Price and Wage Index and Charts 4.A Prices, Silver 4.B Prices, Grain 4.C Wages, Grain 4.D Charts Appendix 5 Discrepancy Index 5.A General Discrepancy Index 5.A.a Discrepancy by Text 5.A.b Discrepancy by Type and Per cent 5.B Rounding 5.B.a Rounding by Scribe 5.B.b Rounding by Provenance 5.B.c Rounding by Year 5.B.d Rounding by Administration Type 5.B.e Rounding by Placement in Text Bibliography Indexes to the Text Editions Part I Akkadian and Sumerian Word Index Part II Name Index Part III Economic Text Index Part IV Mathematical Text Index Subject Index