Editorial Development: Bonnie Brook Communications

Look for evidence the author uses to support the ideas in the passage.
Debt in the Ancient World
Debt arises between neighbors and nations —and has for thousands of years. In fact, some of the 
earliest known examples of writing are records of one individual’s debt to another. These clay-carving 
“receipts” of debt were found in the area that is now modern-day Iraq. What is more, these records of debt 
go back 2,000 years before coin money was widely in use.
The ancient Iraqi region of Sumer is the first place in recorded history where the notion of interest, or 
repaying a creditor more than you borrowed, took hold. Like writing, interest predated coin money. When a 
man borrowed 30 head of cattle for one year, he was expected to return more than 30 cattle to the original 
owner at the end of the year because the loaned herd should have multiplied through breeding. Modern 
interest works the same way, with creditors adding on monetary fees to loans or debts.
Debt in the ancient world was not always the result of borrowing. When soldiers surrendered to 
enemies, and therefore “owed” their lives to their captors, they were in debt. Citizens of countries 
conquered by Rome or other empires had to pay their new rulers some sort of tax.
When farmers or other laborers had unprofitable years, they were not able to pay the state or other 
creditors the amounts they owed. Sometimes, they then tried to avoid their debts by leaving the land and 
becoming bandits. To prevent this, rulers in ancient Mesopotamia cleared debts after seven years. In this 
way, the debtors could have a fresh start as honest and productive citizens.
SKILL PRACTICE
Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. Why did the author include the information about 
ancient clay carvings?
A
to show that historians were writing stories 
about debt
B
to show that the carvings were used before
coin money
C
to show that carvings in clay are a good way to 
keep records
D
to show that debt has a long history