A Look at Mesopotamian Society

Ancient Mesopotamia is often revered as the cradle of civilization, which is not far from the truth. Although many hominids who came before humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) were known to care for their young, weak, and sickly, they did not have complex civilizations. Therefore, one could state culture and pre-civilization emerged in early Africa before the rise of Homo sapiens sapiens. Anyways, evidence of complex societies points to the emergence of cultures in ancient Mesopotamia. 7,000 BC is the beginning of many Mesopotamian societies (though some evidence points to earlier occupations toward the end of the Ice Age in 10,000 BC).

Mesopotamian societies were largely religious in nature, in which priests and kings used the power of "deities" to control their people. Economies were generally despotic, with a central figure controlling all the means of production. Sumerians, one the first well-developed societies, used silver, wheat, and barley as means of currency. The method of economic trade utilized in Mesopotamia was easy to control by officials. If the dictator controlled all the resources (wheat), then economic control would easily follow.

Constrained civil rights and de facto economic control have been left over from ancient Mesopotamia. Places like Iraq were restricted dictatorships until western "liberation" (this of course is up to whoever thinks Iraq is "free" now), and other middle eastern countries still show remnants of ancient government. Social and economic stratification were not heard of, and egalitarianism (with exception to kings and clergy) was the main social organization seen throughout the middle east in this time period.

Deities at the time were anthropomorphisized into whatever element they held dominion over. So, not only do we have evidence that ancient Mesopotamians worshiped and were aware of the different properties of earth, they also modeled them after humans to make the world seem more personable. Obviously, this has continued into the modern era with Catholic, Islamic, Jewish, and other gods being personable to humans and having a hominid appearance, all of which have Mesopotamian roots. Beyond that, most of these religions made mention of a great flood and "savior" similar to that of the Judeo-Christians. The Sumerians also believed that humans were removed from paradise by god for eating a forbidden fruit.

The many things we know about ancient Mesopotamia and its society, cultures, and beliefs are attributed in large part to the collection of Sumerian clay-tablet writings that have been survived to this day. Though much still remains a mystery, it is interesting to research the similarities between our religions and how methods of subtle control are still evident in today's world.

Sources:
- Unexplainable.Net, The Structure of Ancient Mesopotamian Society