Everyday Life and Jobs
Most free Sumerian citizens were farmers, fishermen, scribes, craftsmen or merchants. Some Sumerian citizens were slaves. A temple was the center of everyday life. A temple's god was considered to be the giver of fertility and the temple itself owned most of the city's fields and livestock.
Children were under the absolute authority of the parents and could be disinherited, or even sold into slavery. Slaves were dependent on the temple and other rich estates for small plots of land that they were given for temporary possession and for rations of food and clothing. Slaves had some legal rights: they could borrow money, engage in business and buy their freedom. |