HIS-1110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Ziggurat, Class Conflict
What are the consequences of an agricultural
surplus?
Things that become possible :
Trade
Sense of possession
Economy – complex with different types of jobs
Consequence #1:
Development of a Complex Social Structure:
•Populations grow
•The division of labor: not all of a community’s labor has to be dedicated to
farming, freeing some to pursue other work
•Specialized trades: the development of specific trade
–Farmers
–Craftsmen
–Merchants: Sumerians need to trade with north for wood and stone to
build – must go elsewhere for wood, trade some goods
for wood
–Development of organized Religion and political leadership. –
development of government
•Emergence of social hierarchies (and class conflict) – with leadership and
everything else can see who is on top and who is on bottom.
Consiquence #2
Development of Religion
The first leaders are religious leaders
“divine house holds” – homes serving the gods
type of religion that develops develops bc of agricultural surplus
Consequence #3
The Development of Kingship
Sumerian city states are often at war…. Development of
farming
oEarly forms of war caused by want to resources. “Resource raids.” Could
seize other peoples cattle and farm goods.
oSumarian towns are all independent – Creates tension between towns if
worried about raid or want to raid another town – preists can manage
ziggurat but turn to strong leader good at fighting for protection
oKings exist to farm gods land
Identified with local gods
Kings begin to control agricultural surpluss:
oKeep power by ability to control/protect the
resources
Receive taxes
Receive large plots of land to farm for their own needs
Receive large share of war booty (plunder)
“spend” it on temples, irrigation canals, ect
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Economy complex with different types of jobs. Populations grow: the division of labor: not all of a community"s labor has to be dedicated to farming, freeing some to pursue other work. Merchants: sumerians need to trade with north for wood and stone to build must go elsewhere for wood, trade some goods for wood. Development of organized religion and political leadership. development of government: emergence of social hierarchies (and class conflict) with leadership and everything else can see who is on top and who is on bottom. Divine house holds homes serving the gods type of religion that develops develops bc of agricultural surplus. Sumerian city states are often at war . Development of farming: early forms of war caused by want to resources. Kings begin to control agricultural surpluss: keep power by ability to control/protect the resources. Receive large plots of land to farm for their own needs. Receive large share of war booty (plunder)
