Economy
The Akkadian Empire was completely dependent on the agricultural systems of the region. There were two principal centers that housed these agriculture areas: the irrigated farmlands of southern present-day Iraq and the rain-fed agriculture of northern present-day Iraq. With the small amount of rainfall the Akkadian Empire received, the majority of agriculture was dependent on irrigation. With the salinization of soil and poorly- drained irrigation , wheat was fairly hard to grow. Therefore, salt-tolerant barley was grown instead, and wheat was imported. The Akkadian Empire's economy was primarily composed of agriculture. However, although there was a surplus of agricultural products, they were severly deficient of all other resources, such as metal ores and wood. Thus, with this surplus of agricultural products, they traded it with the other resources they were missing. These imports that they received greatly affected them by allowing Akkadians to conquer land and thus spread outward.
Taxes were paid to temples in the form of meat, milk, cheese, and wool. When farmers had low supply years, these taxes would cause conflict between them and the nomads. However, these taxes were mandatory in creating an agriculture surplus. Taxes were also paid in the form of labor on public walls, temples, and irrigation canals.
Generally, the local currency was barley (in the form of shekels which was coin that represented the weight of barley) while the currency of trade and commercial calculations was silver. Shekels were formally used between the cities of Mesopotamia.
Taxes were paid to temples in the form of meat, milk, cheese, and wool. When farmers had low supply years, these taxes would cause conflict between them and the nomads. However, these taxes were mandatory in creating an agriculture surplus. Taxes were also paid in the form of labor on public walls, temples, and irrigation canals.
Generally, the local currency was barley (in the form of shekels which was coin that represented the weight of barley) while the currency of trade and commercial calculations was silver. Shekels were formally used between the cities of Mesopotamia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekel