The Social Structure of Mesopotamia: Classes, Hierarchy, and Organisation

Mesopotamia's daily life wasn't similar to that of ancient Greece or Rome. Why? Mesopotamia was never a unified civilisation – not even under the Akkadian Empire. The region had different kingdoms and ethnicities that differed significantly from each other. Still, the social structure of Mesopotamia was quite similar to many in later civilisations.

Mesopotamia is thought to be the place where early civilisation began. It's a historic region of West Asia within the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Home to the ancient civilisation of Babylonia, Assyria and Sumer, these people are credited with influencing agriculture, astronomy, religion and mathematics.

The social structure of the Mesopotamia

What kind of structure is Mesopotamia known for? The Mesopotamian social structure was highly stratified. It was divided into royalty (king and nobility), priests and priestesses, the upper class, the lower class and slaves.

Each group included various members of the society and had their function that kept the community functioning. Here are details of social classes in Mesopotamia from highest to lowest.

1. Royalty (king and nobility)

The monarch's primary duties included running the government, making laws, participating in religious rites, overseeing the administration of justice and more. Mesopotamian leaders, often city-state kings, rose to power in one of three ways (or a combination of each):

• Being the previous king’s son
• Show that the gods have chosen him to be king
• Prove worth through military victory

In ancient Mesopotamia, the divine realm and the human realm were believed to be closely linked, so one realm affected the other. The gods were so much more powerful than the kings and priests, but the kings and priests could receive and explain the gods will to their people.

2. The priests and priestesses

The high priest or priestess only served the city god and was responsible for the most important rituals.

The lesser priests and priestesses officiated at religious services and presided over the temple's sacred aspects of daily life. They were literate, and people depended on them to interpret omens and signs. In addition, they also served as healers.

3. Upper class

The upper class comprised merchants who owned companies, private tutors, scribes and, in time, high-ranking military men. Other popular upper-class occupations were architects, accountants, shipwrights, scribes and astrologers. Scribes were highly respected and worked for kings, in the temple, court and schools – every teacher was a scribe.

4. Lower class

The lower class had occupations that kept the region operating: farmers, soldiers, sailors, musicians, prostitutes, artists, carpenters, jewellery makers, fishermen, baker and more.

Of those listed, jewellery makers, perfume makers, prostitutes, and goldsmiths could be considered upper class under the right circumstances, such as finding favour in a king or wealthy person or because of exceptional skills. In addition, any low-class member could climb the social ladder.

5. Slaves

The slaves were the lowest in the Mesopotamia social structure pyramid. One could become enslaved in several ways: selling oneself into slavery to pay off a debt, being sold by a family member to relieve debt, being sold as punishment for crime, or being kidnapped and sold into slavery in another region.

In Mesopotamia, slaves didn't belong to any ethnicity and were solely employed for manual labour. They cared for the house, tended horses, managed large estates, tutored children and served as skilled jewellery makers and accountants. Enslaved people who worked diligently for their masters could eventually buy their freedom.

Household furniture in Mesopotamia

Most houses in Mesopotamia had little furniture, as most were reserved for the wealthy. The furniture was made from wicker wood, and the most common were chests, stools, tables, sofas, baskets and reed mats. Wealthy Mesopotamians decorated their tables using metal.

House vessels were made from stone, copper, clay and bronze. People lighted their homes by putting a wick made of wool or reed in sesame seed oil and lighting it. Statues were hidden inside the house to ward off evil spirits.

In addition, bathrooms had bathtubs, stools, mirrors, jars and large water pitchers. The rich had toilets with working drainage systems.