Political Systems in the Early River Valley Civilizations

Mesopotamia was founded around the 4th millennium BCE, and it was ‘the land between two rivers.’

Mesopotamia had a theocratic monarchy. Sumerians never believed their kings were real gods, but they believe kings were descended from the City of Gods. The kings were called “great kings,” “King of the universe” or “shepherds,” because the kings had to look after their people.

All glory went to the god, not to the king.

The king was the community planner

Distributed food, shelter, etc. evenly.

As a result, of the lack of communication among cities, each city became an independent city-state (each city-state had its own God). When Assyria, the major city of the civilization, grew into an empire, it was divided into provinces, each named after its principal city.  Individually, each province had its own governor whose role was:

To make sure everyone paid his or her taxes.

They called up for soldiers and workers to build the temples.

For enforcing the laws 

Throughout the time of Hammurabi’s rule, Babylon grew enormously compared to the other provinces. Babylon was known as “the law maker” and here is where the important Hammurabi’s Code was drawn from legal precedence and decisions made by Kings. As a result, of Mesopotamia’s law, government and urban settlement, the creation of different social classes began since it promoted the capacity of some to abuse the labor of others.

- Free class: royalty, landowners, warriors, high-ranking officials, priests, and some artisans among others.

- Dependent farmers and artisans: those whose work was tied by obligations to royal or religious requirements.

- Slaves: a small class of people.

Indus Valley Civilization existed from 3300–1300 BCE, or in its mature period 2600–1900 BCE.

Although it is unclear what was the type of government because of the lack of understanding of their language, is believed that the Indus Valley Civilization had:

-  A single state, was in charge given the similarity in artifacts, planned settlements, etc.

-  Several rulers, as city-states.

-  No rulers and everybody possessed equal status.

Also, Indus Priests were somewhat in charge of the Government.

This civilization is one of the widest oldest civilizations, which included the ingenious metropolises of Mohenjo-Daro in Harappa. It can be assumed that such growth and maintenance of order would have been possible as a result of a political system.

Social stratification:

It is believed the Indus practiced the egalitarian system; for instance, their houses were almost equal in size; therefore, possibly equal in wealth

Egyptian civilization coalesced in 3150 and ended in 332 BCE; it was a civilization of Northeastern Africa, along the Nile River.

Ancient Egypt had a hereditary theocratic monarchy political system. The head of the legitimate system was formally the Pharaoh, who the people recognized as a god. This recognition granted the Pharaoh limitless power and control. He or she (in almost all cases, a man) was responsible for: 

-  Enacting laws

-  Delivering justice

-  Maintaining law and order 

Laws were based on a common-sense view of right and wrong that emphasized reaching arrangements and solving disagreements rather than harshly adhering to a knotty set of laws.

Starting in the New Kingdom, oracles performed a major role in the legal system, doing justice in both civil and criminal cases. 

Taxation:

Old Kingdom: the kings controlled all the resources and only gave them to those able to pay taxes (it was more like a tyranny).

During the Middle and New Kingdoms, mostly taxation was in a way of good and labor; for example, citizens were forced to labor or recruited into the military when necessary in order to pay taxes. 

     Ancient Egypt social stratification was structured like a pyramid:

Forced labor - the construction of the Giza-pyramid

Gods

--Pharaoh--

Nobles, Priests

------Soldiers------

---------Scribes--------

---------Merchants---------

-------------Artisans-------------

----------------Farmers----------------

-----------Slaves and Servants-----------