History 2

1

The temple, the city-state, and the king each played a very important role in sumeriam society.  Early in the Ubaid period (5500-2350bc) people developed distictive, strongly built temples for their deities.  Temples dominated every Ubaid settlement where a powerfull priestly class directed socety and economy.  As time comtinued people started to errect larger temples.  The temples connected the people with the heavens and gods.  This allowed the temples and priests to gain a lot of power.  

The city state's were ruled by powerful priest to dynasties of kings.  Each city was independent and theoretically owned by its patron god.  Each city controlled the surrounding towns and villages and its very excistence was dependend on agriculture.  War often broke out between cities over irrigation rights.  Kings were considered god's or demi-gods, and had a lot of power.  it was believed that kinds had been lowered down by the gods.  The king was consdered more then a mere mortal.  Sumerien society had a small ruling elite class and a large population of poor commoners.

2

Cosmology , the pantheon of gods, and temple worship all effected Mesopotamian life and culture.  With the advent of writing ancient thinkers developed a cosmology that became the basic beleif of the entire ancient Near East.  The peoples beliefs helped them cope with the hardships of life.  It helped to answer questions like: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here?  The sumerien priest had plenty of time to ponder these questions and formulate all the answers nescisary to put the people as ease.

Sumerien religion beleived in a great pantheon of detities who were in human form.  These deties were imortal and controlled the universe.  Sumerien religious doctrine said the gods  acted as lawgivers to keep the iniverse in balance.  The gods controlled everything and could even punish a city state.  This played a huge role in sumerein life.  The people were always concerned with keeping the gods happy.

Sumerein religion was centered around the temple.  The priests and priestesses were the peoples spiritual leaders and their connection with the gods.  This gave the temple a lot of influence.  The entire well beng of the city was thought to be in the hands of the temple.  The city state had to stay in favor with the gods or else terrible things could happen.

3

The Gilgemesh epic lays down a view of what sumeriens thought of the after life.  When someone died it was believe that they entered "the house of dust".  It was considered and place devoid of light.  It was altogether dismal and depressing.  When someone died there soul had to cross a man devouring river.  Sumeriens would bury their dead with food cloths and other things to make there stay in the underworld a little less gloomy.  There is no talk of salvation or of a heaven and hell in sumerien religion. people have nothing to looki forward to after death pretty much.