Ancient Mesopotamia: Slavery and Economy

Slavery in Mesopotamia

• Slaves were used to repay debts and were employed in households for maintaining and managing estates.
• They were also used for tutoring the children of their masters.
• Some slaves were engaged in other activities like accounting, arts, and crafts if their masters believed they had the talent.

Occupation and Agriculture

• The people of Mesopotamia were primarily engaged in agriculture.
• They developed an excellent system of irrigation to ensure a continuous supply of water.
• Reservoirs were built to control floods from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• They used cattle to draw the plough and wheeled carts.
• They cultivated wheat, barley, fruits, and pulses.
• They also domesticated animals like cows, goats, sheep, and donkeys.

Eco-Friendliness of Occupations

• The occupations of the people of Mesopotamia were largely eco-friendly, relying on natural resources and traditional farming practices.

Arts and Crafts

• The people of Mesopotamia were skilled in art and craft, as evident from the vast collection of metal objects found from the royal burial ground at Ur.
• They acquired specialized skills in pottery-making, weaving, and metal work.
• They were skilled in bleaching, dyeing, preparation of paints, cosmetics, and perfumes.
• The discovery of seals, metal objects, gold and silver ornaments, statues, and pottery are all reminders of the Mesopotamian expertise in art and craft.

Trade and Commerce

• Trade and commerce flourished in Mesopotamia, making it a prosperous civilization.
• The chief exports were food grains and finished products.
• The chief imports were stone, timber, and metal ores.
• They traded with the Mediterranean countries and Egypt.
• They had trade relations with the Indus Valley Civilization, as evidence of Mesopotamian seals had been uncovered at some Indus Valley sites.
• They invented coins, weights, and measures to encourage trade and commerce.
• They were also the first people in the world to issue receipts and bills in business transactions.

Architecture and Technology

• The Mesopotamians introduced the use of arches, columns, and domes in their constructions.
• The Ziggurats and the Hanging Gardens represent the best example of Mesopotamian architecture.
• The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world and were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife.
• A ziggurat is a type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia.
• Reservoirs were large natural or artificial lakes used as a source of water supply.