Mesopotamian society was strictly hierarchical, with slaves at the bottom. Slaves could be prisoners of war or people in debt, and had no legal rights. Commoners, who made up 85% of the population, were mostly farmers who paid taxes. Merchants invented writing to record trades and exported goods as far as Egypt. Scribes were educated and literate, working for the government. Priests controlled land distribution and were influential due to religion. The king was the highest position in society and had absolute power.

1. Mesopotamia
Social Structure

2. The Slaves
Slaves were the bottom of the social hierarchy, but were generally treated
well
All slaves were identified by their specific haircut.
Had no rights, were owned by the wealthy, merchants, some even worked
for commoners and worked in the temples, the palace, or on farms.
Slaves were obtained as prisoners of war, or people who couldn’t pay
debts. Sometimes they were offered as payment for a relatives debt.
The civilizations of Mesopotamia would raid the hills for slaves from ‘Hill
People’ tribes
Law didn’t protect them, but attributed what rights they had to their
owner,(e.g- if the slaves arm was broken, the owner would receive
compensation)

3. The Commoners
-The labouring lower-class of the kingdom
-85% were in farming
-The specialized tradesmen (non-farmers)
were paid uniform wages from the surplus
collected from the farmers as taxes
-Women enjoyed more rights than in other
social orders
-Had close family ties
Weren’t educated, boys were taught their
father’s trade, girls were taught to care the
home and children by their mother

4. Merchants and Artisans
Invented Cuneiform to document trade deals
Traded ideas and products throughout the euphrates and tigris rivers,
taking caravans as far as Egypt, Cyprus, and Lebanon
Produced the wealth that made civilization possible
Merchants would lead groups with barley and textiles to Asia minor,
returning with timber, stone and metal
Worked raw materials into tools, weapons, and jewellery
T keep track of trade, they invented calendars, that were based on the
o
cycle of the moon (included 12 months, leaps years, and a zodiac)

5. The Scribes
They were the educated class,
sons of the wealthy
Were able to read and write
Worked for the palace, the
government, the army,
merchants, or set up their own
business as public writers
Were nearly always men
Had to undergo training and
complete a specific program to
be called a scribe

6. The Priests
They were the upper-class of
society
Influential because of the
importance of religion and their
relationship with the gods
Controlled the distribution of
land to farmers and crops to
workers
Ran the school
Considered ‘doctors’ of the time

7. The King
Pinnacle of the social order.
Were ‘divinely ordained humans’ as believed by the Sumerians, or
literal ‘gods on earth’ as the Assyrians believed.
The word of a king was law
Generally head of the army
Were sometimes also priests

8. Impact on Us
Women had more rights than later civilizations, and it’s even believed
they served on the council to the King. Although their rights slowly
became less as it became a more male-dominated society
For the first time, power was shifting to Kings from religion
Had schools and education with specialized occupations