Population & Steets in Mespotamia City were largely defined by their occupation, such as traders, slaves, and scribes. The upper class was largely composed of merchants and their slaves, though some had more prestigious jobs. Other members of the upper class included high-ranking military men, scribes, and architects. Interestingly, women were not considered literate enough to pursue careers in these fields, although women were permitted to participate in the same activities as men.
The ancient Mesopotamian cities varied widely in size, with Uruk having a population of nearly 50,000 at its peak. Mari, on the other hand, had only a population of 10,000 people. Throughout Mesopotamia, there were several decentralized city states, and each one had different classes and social strata. While Uruk's population grew rapidly, other ancient cities remained small and relatively undeveloped.
Women worked in the textile industry. Sheep raised outside of the city were used to produce cloth and finished garments. The latter provided for the necessities of life in Mesopotamia, which were otherwise lacking in fiber and protein. In addition, there were many weaving implements. The implication of this is that women worked hard to provide for the city's needs. The task must have been enormous, as the textual record attests to.
Ancient Mesopotamia was a complex, highly developed land. In the Paleolithic age, humans populated Mesopotamia in circular houses. As the population grew, agriculture took hold and farming communities formed. Agrarian communities spread across Mesopotamia for several thousand years before cities were built. During this time, the Sumer people were regarded as the masterminds behind the development of cities and civilizations.