Question

mesopotamian government
in the early day of mesopotamia, the free citizens met,
discussed, and made decisions for themselves in a
democratic assembly. as the villages grew into larger
cities, however, the citizens found it necessary to elect one
of their most capable citizens to lead them through
troubling times. at first the lugal, meaning \big man\ or
king in sumerian, was appointed only for the time of crisis,
but soon one war lead to another and the lugal made
himself permanent ruler, or king.
the king had many important jobs. he built temples,
settled disputes between his people, and maintained the
complicated system of canals that irrigated the farmlands.
the most important job of the king was to lead his people
to victory in war.
because the sumerians went to war often, the army
had a powerful influence in the government. generals
advised the king on military decisions.
the king was also the head priest in the ziggurat, or
main temple. priests were respected because they were the
servants of the gods and advisors of the king.
the king could not maintain peace and manage the
trade of sumer at the same time. he appointed bureaucrats,
or workers who answered directly to him, to regulate trade
and agriculture.
answer all of the following questions in complete sentences.
1.) how did the early mesopotamians first make decisions?
2.) how and why did the early form of government in mesopotamia change?
3.) what important jobs did the king have?
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)
4.) how did the army influence the government?
5.) what role did religion play in government?
6.) how did the kings of mesopotamia manage all of their jobs?
7.) if you had been the king of mesopotamia, what aspects or jobs would have been
most important to you?

Explanation:

1. The text clearly states that in the early days, free citizens made decisions in a democratic assembly.
2. As villages grew into cities, citizens elected a leader (lugal) for crisis times. Wars made the lugal a permanent ruler (king).
3. The text lists the king's jobs: building temples, settling disputes, maintaining canals, leading in war.
4. The army had influence as generals advised the king on military decisions.
5. The king was the head priest, and priests (servants of gods) were advisors.
6. The king appointed bureaucrats to help manage trade and agriculture.
7. This is a subjective question based on personal opinion from the text's context.

Answer:

1. The early Mesopotamians first made decisions by having free citizens meet, discuss, and make decisions for themselves in a democratic assembly.
2. The early form of government changed as villages grew into cities. Citizens elected one of their most capable citizens (lugal) to lead through troubling times. At first for crisis, but wars led the lugal to become a permanent ruler (king).

3.
a. He built temples.
b. He settled disputes between his people.
c. He maintained the complicated system of canals that irrigated the farmlands.
d. He led his people to victory in war.

1. The army influenced the government as generals advised the king on military decisions.
2. Religion played a role as the king was the head priest in the ziggurat. Priests (servants of the gods) were respected and advisors of the king.
3. The kings of Mesopotamia managed all of their jobs by appointing bureaucrats (workers who answered directly to him) to regulate trade and agriculture.
4. (Answer will vary. For example) If I had been the king, leading the people to victory in war (as it ensured survival and expansion) and maintaining the canals (for food production) would have been most important.