WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The ruling class of ancient Sumer was at the very top of the Sumerian social hierarchy system. This class comprised the king, royal family/dynasty, and the high priests of any given city-state within Sumer. As members of the highest class, they enjoyed the most rights and privileges compared to other groups.

Detailed explanation-2: -The most famous of the early Sumerian rulers is Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, who took control around 2700 B.C. and is still remembered for his fictional adventures in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the first epic poem in history and inspiration for later Roman and Greek myths and Biblical stories.

Detailed explanation-3: -The upper class included merchants who owned their own companies, scribes, private tutors, and, in time, high-ranking military men. Other occupations of the upper class were accountants, architects, astrologers (who were usually priests), and shipwrights.

Detailed explanation-4: -The hereditary noble class were the kings, land-owning families and priests and priestesses and their families. Keep in mind that ancient Mesopotamia’s history stretches over 3000 years and includes many cultures: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Sumerian government was a form of Theocracy meaning that a deity, or god, was the supreme ruler and Kings and Priests were given divine guidance to rule their lands. The Sumerians had over 3, 000 gods. Each city had its own government and laws.