Trade routes in the Mesopotamia region and products traded on these routes

The main focus of our thesis is the trade routes in Mesopotamia and the products traded along them. Translations of clay tablets written by merchants of the period, translations of laws, and archaeological findings were examined during this research. We examined the commercial activities of antiquity, the interactions arising from these activities, and the interregional exchange of goods. In light of the recorded relationships, we attempted to explain the nature of these trade routes and commercial goods. Because we believe that understanding the historical and physical geography of the region is essential to understanding the region's trade routes and the products that could be traded between regions, the first section explores the historical geography of Mesopotamia. Therefore, since the natural road routes and riverbeds of Ancient Mesopotamia may have changed over time and interpreting them based on the current geographical structure could lead to errors, the historical geography of Mesopotamia was discussed. The second section explores political relations, as the economy is a fundamental element in interstate relations. The third and final section: By reviewing trade data, research was conducted on the products traded in the region and the routes these products followed. The data obtained during the research revealed that the vast majority of routes used in the past are still in use today. While dams and similar obstacles constructed along these routes have caused minor changes, archaeological data uncovered through excavations has brought to light many routes along the route. Some of those not excavated have been submerged under the waters of the dam reservoirs, or the location of some ancient settlements has been undetermined because the beds of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers have shifted over time. Because archaeological activity in the region is relatively young, it is likely that new sites will be discovered through archaeological excavations in the future.