Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

2 .5
2.5
FINANCIAL SERVICES
AND MONEY IN ANCIENT
STATES IN CENTRAL ASIA
Tax (revenue collection) systems
The very existence of a state is determined by the presence of various kinds of
institutions, including tax collection systems. We have information about the
existence of tax collection systems within Central Asia, and ancient Uzbekistan in
particular, only from the time it was incorporated into the Achaemenid kingdom.
Around 518 BC, King Darius I (522–486 BC) began to introduce reforms to
reorganise the state’s administrative and financial systems. According to Herodotus,
the entire territory of the Achaemenid kingdom was divided into 20 satrapies, of
which Bactria, Sakasthana, Khorezm, Parthia, Sogdia and Haraiva were within the
limits of Central Asia.
Each of these satrapies had to contribute a certain amount to the royal treasury in the
form of a unit of weight – a talent. One talent was equivalent to 25.92 kg. Thus, Bactria
paid 360 talents of silver (9331 kg); Sakasthana and Caspiane paid 250 talents (6480
kg); Khorezmia, Parthia, Sogdia and Haraiva paid a total of 300 talents (7776 kg).
This means that the Achaemenid kingdom received annual revenues amounting
to 910 talents, or about 23,587 kg of silver, from the whole territory of Central Asia.
Judging by the total amount of the tax collected, Central Asia clearly occupied a
leading position in the Achaemenid kingdom, surpassed only by the satrapies of
Mesopotamia (1,000 talents) and Asia Minor (more than 1,000 talents).
The well-known account by Herodotus about the river Akes ( the modern Tedjen
river), indicates that taxes for the use of water were also levied in the form of money
for the treasury of the Achaemenid kings (III, 117). ‘I have heard and know that he
exacts great sums, over and above the tribute, for the opening of the gates,’ writes
Herodotus.
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