Social classes in the Mesopotamia
Babylonia: There were several levels in the social hierarchy with the Pharaoh at the top and the slaves at the bottom. In between, in descending order, were the nobles, the free citizens and those in military and civil service,Scribes and religious leaders, merchants and peasants. The class structure was generally rigid although some mobility from one level to another was possible. The debt slave had the possibility of paying his debts and regaining his freedom but the only hope for the foreign captive was escape or death.
In Babylonian society there were mainly three classes in society, the awilu, a free person of the upper class, the wardu, or slave, and the mushkenu, a free person of low estate, who ranked between the awilu and the wardu. Parents could sell their children as slaves in time of need, or a man might even turn over his entire family to creditors in payment of a debt, but for no longer than three years.
Sumer: The Highest Class consisted of the King, government people, priests, and land owners (in order). They were all all just as important as the pharaoh in managing business around the empire. The priests over looked the reigious affairs and the nobles were help to the Pharaoh.The middle class includes merchants, craftspeople, farmers, and fisherman. They are considered the normal everyday people.The Lowest Class consists of the slaves. They usually live in houses owned by the people they work for. They don't own any land and don't have many belongings. The peasants were actually given respect and little land; they had more than the slaves.
Assyria: Pharaoh was the top of the society.
Government Officials, Nobles,and Priests are considerd high class. The priests were in charge of managing the religious business of the kingdom. The nobles helped the king rule and would take over when he died. The government workers took care of the day to day operations of the kingdom.The soldiers defended the city. They were a strong force in the region. They took over many different countries and city states. They were so well known for their brutality that all other countries stopped resisting.
The scribes recorded every day history and important events. They kept track of military actions including what the soldiers looted and their acts of brutality.The merchants were traders and every day business owners.The artisans made clay tablets for the scribes, weapons for warriors, and tools for farmers and blacksmiths. Farmers are apart of the lower class (peasants) If there wasn't enough food, people would die or starve. Slaves and Servants were the other two parts of lower classYou could become a slave in three ways: you could be born a slave, you could become a slave by disobeying the laws.
In Babylonian society there were mainly three classes in society, the awilu, a free person of the upper class, the wardu, or slave, and the mushkenu, a free person of low estate, who ranked between the awilu and the wardu. Parents could sell their children as slaves in time of need, or a man might even turn over his entire family to creditors in payment of a debt, but for no longer than three years.
Sumer: The Highest Class consisted of the King, government people, priests, and land owners (in order). They were all all just as important as the pharaoh in managing business around the empire. The priests over looked the reigious affairs and the nobles were help to the Pharaoh.The middle class includes merchants, craftspeople, farmers, and fisherman. They are considered the normal everyday people.The Lowest Class consists of the slaves. They usually live in houses owned by the people they work for. They don't own any land and don't have many belongings. The peasants were actually given respect and little land; they had more than the slaves.
Assyria: Pharaoh was the top of the society.
Government Officials, Nobles,and Priests are considerd high class. The priests were in charge of managing the religious business of the kingdom. The nobles helped the king rule and would take over when he died. The government workers took care of the day to day operations of the kingdom.The soldiers defended the city. They were a strong force in the region. They took over many different countries and city states. They were so well known for their brutality that all other countries stopped resisting.
The scribes recorded every day history and important events. They kept track of military actions including what the soldiers looted and their acts of brutality.The merchants were traders and every day business owners.The artisans made clay tablets for the scribes, weapons for warriors, and tools for farmers and blacksmiths. Farmers are apart of the lower class (peasants) If there wasn't enough food, people would die or starve. Slaves and Servants were the other two parts of lower classYou could become a slave in three ways: you could be born a slave, you could become a slave by disobeying the laws.
This is a pie chart of the average population make up in the mesopotamian civilization!