Question

Of the new institutions that came into being once city life had begun, which would have depended on the initiative of the king?

Answer 1

Once the city life began, several new institutions came into being. Some of the most prominent institutions can be grouped as:

1) Social institutions - Nuclear families and marriage

2) Political institutions - Administrative machinery, army and messaging system

3) Economic institutions - Trade and tax

4) Cultural institutions - Temples, schools and tablet writing

Out of the above mentioned institutions, the ones that depended on the initiative of the king have been discussed below.

Economic Institutions

Trade: Trade was the means by which raw materials and finished products that were not available but were needed could be attained. Mesopotamia did not possess all resources and was in a need to establish trade links with Assyria, Babylonia and Sumeria. To conduct trade, proper roadways and waterways had to be built and maintained. This was indeed not possible without the initiative and aid of the King. The king also appointed officers who could inspect the incoming goods and levy a charge on those goods.

Taxation: Taxation served as a potent source of revenue for Mesopotamia. This important sector was planned and executed by the central authority or the King to ensure its effective organisation. To ensure a perennial source of revenue, tax was imposed on almost every commodity and service such as fishing, farming and trading.

Cultural Institutions

Temples: Several Mesopotamian towns had evolved and developed around temples. People of these temple towns associated themselves with the temples. Every ruler wanted to gain control of the temples by taking the opportunity of this association. Immense wealth and energy were spent on the beautification of the holy structures. Such works conducted by the King made him popular among the masses and helped him earn a high status and the authority to command the community too.

Political Institutions
For the proper management of the city, the King had to take several initiatives. To achieve so, he maintained an army for the protection of the city and its people. Maintenance of law and order in the city was the army's primary function. A proper network of messaging was introduced by the King that facilitated uninterrupted relations with other cities and settlements.