The Ancient Mesopotamians created a society with 4 classes: Priests, Upper Class, Lower Class, and Slaves.
Priests and the King (amelu):
- Priests were made powerful and held to high esteem because they were in charge of obtaining the favor of the gods.
- Made human and animal sacrifices at the temples of a particular god or goddess
- Also considered the doctors of that age.
- Priests were often wealthy, owned most of the land, and conducted trade.
Upper Class (mushkina):
- Businessmen who owned land and their families.
- Both men and women wore jewelry.
- Men had long hair with beards and mustaches.
- Women wore their hair braided or in a bun.
Lower Class:
- Did not necessarily own land.
- They were farmers, skilled laborers, or merchant; people who had to do physical work for a living.
Slaves:
- Worked for priests at the temples or for wealthy families.
- Slaves were either born into slavery or they could be given to slavery by their parents.
- Had the opportunity to buy their freedom.
- Men did manual labor and women were maids who did household jobs.
Women:
- Stuck with the role of wife and housekeeper and education came in the form of cooking or beer brewing.
- After puberty, a girl would be considered ready to be married (marriages were pre-arranged and meant to strengthen economic bonds).
Priests and the King (amelu):
- Priests were made powerful and held to high esteem because they were in charge of obtaining the favor of the gods.
- Made human and animal sacrifices at the temples of a particular god or goddess
- Also considered the doctors of that age.
- Priests were often wealthy, owned most of the land, and conducted trade.
Upper Class (mushkina):
- Businessmen who owned land and their families.
- Both men and women wore jewelry.
- Men had long hair with beards and mustaches.
- Women wore their hair braided or in a bun.
Lower Class:
- Did not necessarily own land.
- They were farmers, skilled laborers, or merchant; people who had to do physical work for a living.
Slaves:
- Worked for priests at the temples or for wealthy families.
- Slaves were either born into slavery or they could be given to slavery by their parents.
- Had the opportunity to buy their freedom.
- Men did manual labor and women were maids who did household jobs.
Women:
- Stuck with the role of wife and housekeeper and education came in the form of cooking or beer brewing.
- After puberty, a girl would be considered ready to be married (marriages were pre-arranged and meant to strengthen economic bonds).