Childrens’ Life in Ancient Mesopotamia
Family was the basic unit of society governed by specific patriarchal rules.
Monogomy was the rule though nobility could have concubines.
Purchase of wives from their fathers was commonplace, though this practice became less common after 3000 BC.
A woman was allowed to do anything and go anywhere, including conducting her own business, as long as her husband permitted it or she was widowed.
In case of a divroce, both partners had to pay a fine. A childless wife could be divorced easily, but a wife who left her husband faced severe penalties. Concieving children was the main purpose of marriage and boys were preferred.
Children were to respect their parents as contempt of one’s parents was seen as a grave sin.
Family unity was extremely important, which is reflected in the way gods were believed to be related and respected each other.
The selling of children was only done in dire financial difficultines and often seen as a bad omen.
Ancient Sumerians kept written records of everything and many sent their children to school.
Schools were run by the preists and was very tough.
Only boys were allowed to attend school, though if a girl wanted to learn to read and write, that was acceptable, but she either had to be taught by her parents or have a hired tutor for this purpose.
In the schools, if a student messed up, they would be whipped as it was believed one only learned something if the lesson was reinforced with a beating.
Students were not maimed or crippled by the beatings but they were sore.
Even with this punishment, children wanted to go to school as if one knew how to read and write, they could always get a job and perhaps even enter priesthood.
Even when people in ancient Mesopotamia worked hard and worshipped daily, they also had time for play.
Games were typically made out of clay.
Usually, board games ahd pieces that were either thrown or moved around on the board.
They are credited with the invention of the game Checkers and some games even used dice.
20 Squares: A game that was a race across the squares on a game board using dice.
Rules of ‘The Game of Twenty Squares’
58 Holes: Various pieces were moved into the holes and around the board.
More In-depth explanation of The Game of 58 Holes (and a similar game)
Balls (for juggling and other games)
Miniature pieces of furnature, beds, tables, stools, dolls, and small animals.
Children also had little model vehicles of carts and chariots that could be pulled by a string and miniature boats.
An ancient game that is either called Buzz Button or Button Buzz
First one needs to make a round circle out of clay and put a hole in it as though you were going to use it for a necklace and let it dry.
The next step is to hang it with a bit of rope or weed, then holding the rope at the very end, swing it round faster and faster until the disk makes a buzzing sound.
The trick is to make the buzz sound loud as possible.
