A Day In The Life of a Bronze Age Trader

Hello, I’m Hamish. I’m a very well known trader in Mesopotamia and since the discovery of bronze my fame has increased dramatically. Today I am going to go up to the Tigris River to meet a friend, Drake. He is not the cleverest of traders and is easiest to fool. I think it should be even easier now that my people have discovered a new type of metal, Bronze. Everyone wants bronze now because it lasts a long time, it’s very hard and of course, it’s shiny. The way was relatively easy because of another great invention, the wheel. Well actually the cart. To bring all of my stuff with me I simply throw it all into the cart sit on top and whip my mule into motion.

When I arrived after travelling many miles the trades had already started. I spied my friend Drake at the corner of the market place trading slingshots for food. I pushed throught the crowd of bodies and shouting voices until my friend could see me. I waved to him gleefully and he waved back. This was the first time we had seen each other in years. As I walked through the crowd people stared at the bronze in my bag. They had never seen it before and I have to admit it is pretty amazing.

But when I got closer I realized that had actually come for food so we said hello and then I walked away. The main reason why I came was for food so when I saw man trading venison I went right over to him, along with my bag of bronze. But when I was talking to him a young boy stole a golden shield, and then fled. I ran after him but it was no use. That was hours of craftsmanship wasted. I gave up, I’m getting too old. Anyway after that calamity I showed the man my bronze tools he asked him if I could give him the whole bag for the deer. But I thought otherwise. I haggled and after ten minutes we agreed that I would give him a necklace and a spear made of gold for the deer. Now that’s what I call a day’s work!