جرائم السرقة في بعض المجتمعات القديمة
Article
Theft Crime in Some Ancient Societies: A Socio – Historical Analysis By: Dr. Yousef Ahmed Al-Romaih The present study represents a modest endeavor to shed light on theft crimes rampant in some ancient societies. Three such societies –––– Egyptian; Iraqi and the ancient society of Arabian Peninsula –––– were selected for the present study. The present study has employed content analysis approach. Pursuant to this approach, the researcher has pooled pertinent data from old historical sources. Focus of attention was assigned, however, on data that carried significant information on crime, peace, theft and their dimensions. As a whole, the present study has yielded some insightful inferences. The most salient are as follow: • In all the above-cited ancient societies, theft, per se, was widely rampant. Ancient Egypt was foremost in order. Iraq ranked next. Arabian Peninsula was last. • Each ancient society was characterized decisively with distinct theft crime. • Theft of livestock and farms was foremost among general theft crimes. Next in order of importance was at worship houses. Thefts at grave yards and robbery at public passages were next in order. Last in sequence was household thefts. • Thefts at livestock and farms were distinctively common among ancient societies of Egypt and Iraq. Thefts at worship places were decisive among ancient Iraqi society. Robbery at public passages was characteristically conspicuous among the ancient dwellers of Arabian Peninsula. • ¬¬¬¬ Women, at their own, had contributed towards theft crimes in both Egyptian and Iraqi ancient societies. The women in ancient Arabian society, on the contrary, reflected no such role. • Theft penalty had also varied in all the above-cited ancient societies. It ranged from hands amputation to total execution. • Theft, per se, gained no sanction in all the above-cited societies. It was repugnant to the cherished values of the indigenous natives.