Class structure

In Mesopotamia, the civilization can be organized into seven general characteristics. The characteristics, in order most to least important are, class structure, government, trade, science and math, religion, agriculture, specialization with occupation. The most important is class structure because it led to the making of the government, which stabilized the society, leading to the disparity of between the upper and lower class as well as the development of the merchant class.

The reason that class structure is the most important characteristic is because, the label of different classes, have helped in the creation of the society. The highest class, made up of a small amount of people, held the most power through money and their say in the government. The order of the classes from most to least powerful are: king, priests, scribes, merchants and artisans, common people, then slaves. The placements of religious figures, in Mesopotamia, as the upper class, have played a dramatic role in the way civilization developed. One of the effects by the priest would be the use of land by farmers. The ownership of land enforced class structure allowing those in power to slave other to work their land. An example would be how priests were in control of the farm land being given to farmers of the commoner class, for asserting their power to control the civilization. 

Another reason why class structure was vital to civilization in Mesopotamia was because dictatorship allowed the upper class to be the wealthiest, while the commoners were left dependent of the upper class. The wealthy classes are responsible for the development in the laws that controlled individual who were not as powerful. At the time where Hammurabi came into power, his laws established a value in society of the citizens. The fear of these harmful laws, have reminded the lower class of their limitation in power. In these laws, money has become a great factor,   in the distribution of upper a lower class rights.  An example of the enforcement of the class structure and its relation to money is number seventeen from the laws of the code of Hammurabi, would be that, “if anyone finds a runaway male/ female saves in the open country and brings them into their masters, the master of the slaves shall pay him two shekels of silver”. From this law, it is clear that slaves had not rights and would not be considered humans but property of upper class, who have paid to own a lower class person in order to maintain their life style. 

Lastly, trade has become important in the class structure. This is significant for the reason that it has created jobs such as carpenters, metal smiths, etc. with these jobs; it has created another class that kept the unskilled commoners, more able not to change their powerless position in society. The tradesmen and merchants weren't the most powerful but also not the least powerful such as slaves. Government was someone that has required the “middle class” to learn skills, which would help the upper class in many ways, such as building homes. Without these kinds of people around, society would not be able to stand on its own.

In conclusion, the most important is class structure because it led to the making of the government, which stabilized the society, leading to the disparity of between the upper and lower class as well as the development of the merchant class.