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Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. Social Organization and Government. Social Organization and Government. Because of the need to take on such large projects such as irrigation and the defence of cities, the people of Mesopotamia required organization, cooperation and leadership .

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Mesopotamia

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  1. Mesopotamia Social Organization and Government

  2. Social Organization and Government • Because of the need to take on such large projects such as irrigation and the defence of cities, the people of Mesopotamia required organization, cooperation and leadership. • Not only did it take many people to work on these solutions, it also required the formation of laws to settle disputes. The leaders and law makers were the beginning of organized government and eventually of civilization.

  3. Social Organization and Government-The Sumerians-The Sumerians stand out in history as the first people to form a civilization. Five characteristics set Sumerians apart from earlier human societies: (1) advanced cities, (2) specialized workers, (3) complex institutions, (3) record keeping, and (5) improved technology.

  4. Rise of City-States • By 3000 BCE, the Sumerians had built a number of cities, each surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. Each city and the surrounding land it controlled formed a city-state. • A city-state functioned much like an independent country does today. Cities included Uruk, Kish, and Babylon. In the centre of each city, a walled temple and ziggurat stood as a symbol of power.

  5. Priests and Rulers Share Control • These first governments were controlled by the temple priests. The farmers believed that their crops were dependant and the gods, and also that their crops were dependant and the gods. • The ziggurat acted like a city hall. From there, the priests managed the irrigation system as well as requiring a portion of each farmer’s crops as taxes.

  6. Priests and Rulers Share Control • In times of war, priests were often replaced by tough fighters who could better defend the city. Gradually, Sumerian priests and people gave their leadership over to military leaders. • Over time, some military leaders became full-time rulers. These rulers usually passed their power down to their sons, who eventually passed it onto their own heirs. • This series of rulers from the same family is called a dynasty. After 2500 BCE, many Sumerian city-states became under the control of dynasties.

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