Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

GRAPES of Mesopotamia - Coggle Diagram

- - - - The ordinary people were governed or in other words controlled, at least early on, by priests. Early Governments were mostly controlled by Temple Priests. This meant that not only were the massive Ziggurat Temples of Mesopotamia centers of worship for city-states, but they were also equivalent to city halls or other such government buildings. For example, as is a government responsibility of the time, priests managed the irrigation systems that controlled the flow of water for crops and other such agricultural needs, as well as for the use by ordinary citizens of the said city-state. Furthermore, priests collected taxes from the farmers and the citizens to cover the costs of governance.
        However, in times of conflict, priests did not lead cities or their militaries. Power during times of war was given to able military commanders to control the army during times of war. However, the early practice was that this power was receded or forfeited after the conflict or threat was no longer there.
        However, as conflict and war between the city-states became ever more frequent, the people and the priests began giving more permanent power of governance and over standing armies to commanders.
        Over time, as they started to have more power, many of the military commanders became full-time leaders and rulers. These rulers often began passing on power to their children, and so on and so forth, establishing dynasties much like contemporary monarchies. After around 2,500 BC, many Sumerian City States were governed by these Dynasties.
- - - - One of the most significant applications of cuneiform was in Hammurabi's code, the world's first written law code, established by the famous Babylonian king Hammurabi at the height of his empire's power.