By: Preston Charles MacLean I of Assyria. All hail his Grace. Alvito, Joey and Ty, his

humble servants.

Mesopotamia

Social Classes, A.K.A. Social StructuresIn the lovey Mesopotamian area there are 5 main classes that organize their society. On top they have the kings. They control and rule over the peasants. Below these kings there are priest who dish out the holy shiz to all the commoners and over see the food vaults and sometimes will help out in times of famine. Under the priests are the free commoners who are basically the middle class of the modern world. Under them were dependent clients who basically were indentured servants due to simply not being able to pay someone back. And the lowest class was the slaves who may have been enslaven warriors who lost, or others who just were unlucky and got enslaven. Though out of all of the classes the lowest of them all were women due to the patriarchal society Mesopotamia was.

Economy and Commerce

While trade was limited during this early period of human history, there was a burgeoning trade network between the growing city states, and markets in most of the cities, towns, and villages. The trade was primarily limited to Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula, there was a significant trade throughout the Indian Ocean, and to a lesser extent, the Mediterranean Sea. There was no set currency, so bring period-appropriate goods to barter with if you want a souvenir.

Agriculture and CitiesThe majority of people were involved in agriculture. However, a population expansion and the development of cities allowed the rise of specialized labor. Now, the people could have trades and crafts other than agriculture. Irrigation allowed more efficient agriculture, furthering the need for cooperation in the form of governments and the developing non-agrarian classes. There were now clergy, government officials, and tradespeople in addition to farmers and the nomadic peoples. This also led to a new phenomenon; war. The city states and kingdoms were in a near constant state of war over petty claims. Empires rose and collapsed in the span of a couple of generations. This period in human history was one of near-perpetual war.

Hammurabi King of BabylonHammurabi was the king of Babylon and reigned in 1792-1750 B.C.E. His administrative techniques involved bureaucratic rule and regular taxation. Instead of sending an army from city and city to collect tribute, he stationed deputies in the territories they controlled to collect taxes regularly, which were efficient and predictable. To maintain his empire, Hammurabi provided a code of law, which was the most extensive and complete Mesopotamian code of law. He, like many other ancient rulers, claimed that the gods have chosen him to promote the welfare of the people. He succeeded, somewhat, because the laws established high standards of behavior and stern punishments for violators. Be wary when travelling to this time period.

Travel WarningsConflicts: Mesopotamia is a lovely vacation spot, but not when you’re having your innards speared out of your body. With so many developing civilizations being next door to each other, such as the Hittites and the Assyrians, conflicts are not uncommon. It is recommended that you avoid the Sumerian city states, especially if you’re travelling back to the 2300s BCE, because Sargon of Akkad was besieging Sumer at that time.

Travel Warnings: The Sequel Mesopotamia is a social hit or miss; there is the potential of working your way up to the rank of a noble, while at the same time you might find yourself indebted or enslaved. If you’re a women, then I suggest choosing a different time period to go to (the Renaissance is particularly popular). As we had specialized labor and agriculture, a patriarchal pattern began to emerge, with men ruling as kings and dominating political life while women sat at home and took care of children. And, ladies, if your husband is a goof and can’t get his debts paid, then he might send you and your children into slavery as a form of currency.

Discussion Questions to Discuss 1. What influential practices or beliefs of Mesopotamian culture are still evident in the world today?

2. How drastically have the roles of women in society changed since ancient times?

3. Hammurabi’s Code, while rather brutal, gives us an insight into the morals of ancient Mesopotamian peoples. Which of their values, signified by their laws, are still held in modern times?

4. How did early Mesopotamia influence the areas around it and vis versa?

5. What are the most significant differences between hunter-gatherer society and agricultural society (in your opinion)?