Ancient Mesopotamia was organized by their status using a social structure pyramid. It was organized based on people's wealth. Their were four sections of the pyramid. First and most important was their priest or king. Second, was the middle class, which included merchants, craftspeople, artisans, and metal workers. This class was used mostly for making things by hand. And lastly came the slaves, who were at the very bottom of the pyramid. These four groups made up Mesopotamia. Let's learn more about them!
In the the top of the class was the priest, king, landowners, and the government officials. These people made sure that everyone knew specifically who they were. They had the most luxurious homes, near the center of the city. This way, all of the attention was on them. Their houses were two stories high, which was a special quality in Ancient Mesopotamia. Also, their houses were made of whitewashed mud walls, as the other houses were brown. The priest especially has an important role. They told the people how to make the gods happy. In Mesopotamia, They believed that if you pleased the gods, good things will come towards you. It was the same way if you displease the gods, so they always wanted the gods to stay happy. Also, the priests had another job. They were doctors! Isn't that neat? As you can see, the top class had many special advantages and privileges. Wouldn't you want to be in the top class?
In the middle class, there were artisans, merchants, craftspeople, and highly skilled metal workers. This was the class where most of the products that Mesopotamia used were made. The metal workers made swords and arrowheads for the army. They also made plows and hoes for the farmers. They even had to make luxury items for the top class such as, jewelry and mirrors. In this class, the women wore one shoulder bare dresses and the men wore a long skirt. The men also had a beard and shoulder length hair. In the winter time, both genders wore wool coats.
The common class was mainly made up of farmers an fishermen. They lived in a small mud-brick house at the edge of the city, unlike the top class! The farmers often worked to build and repair irrigation systems. In times of need, the men in the common class had to serve in the army.
And lastly, the slaves. The slaves were treated horribly and were not respected for their hard work. They lived in their owners homes and weren't allowed to own any property.
In the the top of the class was the priest, king, landowners, and the government officials. These people made sure that everyone knew specifically who they were. They had the most luxurious homes, near the center of the city. This way, all of the attention was on them. Their houses were two stories high, which was a special quality in Ancient Mesopotamia. Also, their houses were made of whitewashed mud walls, as the other houses were brown. The priest especially has an important role. They told the people how to make the gods happy. In Mesopotamia, They believed that if you pleased the gods, good things will come towards you. It was the same way if you displease the gods, so they always wanted the gods to stay happy. Also, the priests had another job. They were doctors! Isn't that neat? As you can see, the top class had many special advantages and privileges. Wouldn't you want to be in the top class?
In the middle class, there were artisans, merchants, craftspeople, and highly skilled metal workers. This was the class where most of the products that Mesopotamia used were made. The metal workers made swords and arrowheads for the army. They also made plows and hoes for the farmers. They even had to make luxury items for the top class such as, jewelry and mirrors. In this class, the women wore one shoulder bare dresses and the men wore a long skirt. The men also had a beard and shoulder length hair. In the winter time, both genders wore wool coats.
The common class was mainly made up of farmers an fishermen. They lived in a small mud-brick house at the edge of the city, unlike the top class! The farmers often worked to build and repair irrigation systems. In times of need, the men in the common class had to serve in the army.
And lastly, the slaves. The slaves were treated horribly and were not respected for their hard work. They lived in their owners homes and weren't allowed to own any property.
Daily life as a womanEven though there is a social structure pyramid, it doesn't say much about the role that women play. Women were not thought as equal to men. There weren't allowed to attend school, and their daily job was to clean up around the house, cook, and to watch over their children. But, even though women did not have the same rights as men, they did have a few of their own rights. Women were able to own their own property and business, and could have a paid job, though, they still weren't considered equal to men.
|
Daily life as a scholarIn Ancient Mesopotamia, only boys were allowed to go to school. Even though women couldn't go to school. They were allowed to be taught at home to read and write. The boys in school really had to try their best, or they would get whipped by the teacher!
The schools were run by priests, who were also doctors. The children in the city had to find interesting ways to entertain themselves. They made their own toys, including spinning tops, bows and arrows, slingshots, boomerangs, throw sticks, rattles, jump ropes, hoops, and other toys or games. |