Society & Culture in Mesopotamia

1. Society & Culture in Mesopotamia September 25, 2012

2. Social Organization • The King • Acted as god on earth • Priests • Direct link with the gods, distributed land, ran schools • Scribes • Educated class, literate • Merchants and Artisans • Traders & craftspeople • Common People • farmers • Slaves • Captured prisoners • Debtors (or debtor’s family members)

3. Family • Fathers were heads of households, “owner” of their children • Women were could own land, run businesses, couldn’t vote or rule. Were considered secondary to men • Marriages were arranged during teenage years • Monogamy was the rule, though some men took secondary wives – concubines, often of the slave class

4. Economy • Main crops: barley, dates, sesame seeds • 1/3 of the harvest went to the god of their city state, 1/3 went to the King, 1/3 left for the farmer • Small boats made of reeds and goatskins called kelekswere used travel the rivers and conduct trade • Barter system was popular. Grain often used as money • Coins were developed, often made of silver • The Shekel weighed the same as 180 grains of barley and was worth about the same. • The Mina = 60 Shekels • The Talent = 60 minas.

5. Assignment: Due Tomorrow • Read “Urban & Rural Living” pages 59 – 61. • Choose one of the following options • You are an ancient builder/real estate agent. Design a Mesopotamian home and create an advertisement to sell it. Include information on location, floorplan, amenities, construction, price, etc. • You run a catering company. You’ve been hired to prepare the feast to for a banquet. Develop a menu that would suit Mesopotamian tastes. Describe two choices of available meals for supper. Include a price per meal & per group of 60.