Jobs
Mesopotamian occupations fell into four main categories; agriculture, craftsmanship, trade, and hunting. The main job of the Mesopotamian people was in agriculture. Farmers grew fruit, grains, and vegetables. Domesticated cows and oxen were used to plow fields. Mesopotamia had wonderful soil because the flood brought a new layer of topsoil every year. Also, the irrigation systems that were developed helped to create a surplus crop every year. The crops were the main source of food but if the crops were washed away, the hunters would hunt for food to eat so that the people would not starve. The craftsmanship came into play in trading. The craftsmen would make goods that merchants and traders would take and use for barter. Traders travelled to other cities to obtain things that were essential for survival.
Written Communication
Writing was developed in Mesopotamia in 3100 BC. Writing began as basic pictograms used to keep track of crops and taxes. As time passed, the writing evolved into signs. The signs formed what we now call cuneiform. Cuneiform consisted of signs made up of wedges and sticks.
Government
In ancient Mesopotamia there were many different forms of government. The governments were headed by kings or spiritual rulers. All rulers were human representatives from the city's patron God and lived a luxurious life in temples. As government evolved, the kings were granted absoulute power. The throne was hereditary but whenever possible others could overthrow the current crown, seize the throne and devolop a new dynasty. Between the years 1792 BCE and 1750 BCE, Hammurabi ruled. Hammurabi developed the first set of written laws. These laws became known a Hammurabi's code. Later in Mesopotamia, the society became military. In this time there were heavy taxes and mass deportation of conquered people.