What made priests powerful in society?

What made priests powerful in society?

Priests specialized in practicing rituals. They could divine (predict or understand) the will of the gods, what to do if the gods were displeased, and how to gain the gods’ favor. This made priests extremely important to the Sumerians, and they became some of the most powerful people in society.

Who made up the upper class in ancient Mesopotamia?

The upper classes of ancient Mesopotamia included kings and their families, priests and priestesses, ranking military officers, scribes and wealthier merchants and traders. The hereditary noble class were the kings, land-owning families and priests and priestesses and their families.

Why did priests become rich and powerful in the Sumer civilization?

Remember, the Sumerians were polytheistic. They had more than 3,000 gods and goddesses. Because of this, Sumerian priests were very powerful. Because the Sumerians believed that the gods owned all of the land, one way that priests exercised their power was by administering the land in the god’s name.

Are priests upper class?

Different Classes of People The priests were considered near the top as well. The rest of the upper class was made up of the wealthy such as high level administrators and scribes. Below the upper class was a small middle class made up of craftsman, merchants, and civil servants.

Why did Mesopotamians build temples?

These ancient stepped buildings were created to be home to the patron god or goddess of the city. As religion was central to Mesopotamian life, the ziggurat was the heart of a city. The top of the building was flat, and on it was a shrine or temple to the god where only priests could go.

What defines upper class?

The term upper class refers to a group of individuals who occupy the highest place and status in society. These people are considered the wealthiest, lying above the working and middle class in the social hierarchy.

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