In the Mesopotamian region, the surplus of agricultural product allowed for job specialization within the civilization. Job specialization led to a formation of social strata within the civilization. The typical social strata put the nobles, warriors and priests in the “upper class” followed by wealthy merchants and artisans. The peasants were below the merchants/artisans. However, the slaves were at the bottom.
Women were regarded as the daughter of her father or wife of her husband. Women in the Mesopotamia region were trained for the traditional role as a housewife (i.e. cooking, cleaning, making clothing). Women usually stayed in their home. Outside jobs were usually related to their household tasks. Most women did not act outside the context of their own family. The few that did were of the noble class or a wife of a man in power.
The society of Babylonia contained three classes. The Awilu were the free individuals of the upper class. Mushkenu was a free individual that ranked lower than the Awilu. The bottom of the social class is the Wardu or slaves. In Babylonia, women could own property, do business and qualify as a witness.
In the Sumer Civilization, priests were the top of the social hierarchy. However, as more city-states arose, the need for warriors began to rise, and the priests lost their influence. In Assyria, wars and conquests were a vital part of their civilization. The upper class consisted of military commanders who became wealthier from the spoils of war.
Women were regarded as the daughter of her father or wife of her husband. Women in the Mesopotamia region were trained for the traditional role as a housewife (i.e. cooking, cleaning, making clothing). Women usually stayed in their home. Outside jobs were usually related to their household tasks. Most women did not act outside the context of their own family. The few that did were of the noble class or a wife of a man in power.
The society of Babylonia contained three classes. The Awilu were the free individuals of the upper class. Mushkenu was a free individual that ranked lower than the Awilu. The bottom of the social class is the Wardu or slaves. In Babylonia, women could own property, do business and qualify as a witness.
In the Sumer Civilization, priests were the top of the social hierarchy. However, as more city-states arose, the need for warriors began to rise, and the priests lost their influence. In Assyria, wars and conquests were a vital part of their civilization. The upper class consisted of military commanders who became wealthier from the spoils of war.