Exploring Social Classes in Ancient Mesopotamia

What does the term 'social classes' mean from a historian's perspective?

• A way to categorize people based on their wealth

• A method to separate people based on their age

• A division of a civilization into groups with different roles, responsibilities, and privileges

• A system to rank people based on their education

Who were at the top of the social ladder in Sumer?

• Priests

• Farmers

• Slaves

• Kings and their families

What rights did Sumerian women have under Sumerian law?

• They could own land

• They could serve in the army

• They could vote in elections

• They could participate in trade and be honored as priestesses

Who conquered the Sumerian city-states and united them under one government?

• Gilgamesh

• Sargon the Great

• Hammurabi

• Nebuchadnezzar

Under Akkadian rule, what happened to the class of slaves?

• It was reduced significantly

• It expanded to include many Sumerians

• It was abolished

• It remained the same

How did the Akkadian conquest affect the rights of women?

• Women gained more rights

• Women's rights remained unchanged

• Women lost their rights to participate in trade and religious practices

• Women were allowed to serve in the army

Why did the middle class of farmers and crafters always outnumber the upper or slave classes in Mesopotamia?

• Because of the trade routes

• Because of the large number of wars

• Because of the highly agricultural-based culture

• Because of the religious practices

Why could Sumerian women be priestesses alongside priests?

• Because they were wealthy

• Because the Sumerians worshipped many gods identified as both masculine and feminine

• Because they were highly educated

• Because they were from noble families

What was the purpose of keeping Sumerian slaves under Akkadian rule?

• To train them as soldiers

• To integrate them into the middle class

• To educate them

• To maintain power and instill fear

In the interactive game, what class does a character most likely belong to if they are farming?

• Slave class

• Middle class

• Noble class

• Upper class