How did Mesopotamia acquire the people they enslaved?(1 point)
Responses
from war with other areas
from political alliances with other areas
from people who could not pay their debts
from local households
How did Mesopotamia most likely acquire the people they enslaved?(1 point)
Responses
from war with other areas
from political alliances with other areas
from people who could not pay their debts
from local households
It is likely that Mesopotamia acquired the people they enslaved through war with other areas, as well as from people who could not pay their debts.
Mesopotamia acquired the people they enslaved through several means, including:
1. From war with other areas: Enslaved individuals were often captured during conflicts and wars with neighboring regions or tribes. They would be taken as prisoners of war and enslaved by the victorious Mesopotamian society.
2. From political alliances with other areas: As part of political agreements or treaties, Mesopotamian rulers sometimes received slaves as gifts or as part of tribute from other regions or city-states. These slaves would then become part of the enslaved population in Mesopotamia.
3. From people who could not pay their debts: In Mesopotamia, individuals who were unable to repay their debts could be placed into bondage as a form of servitude. These debtors would become slaves and work to pay off their debts to their creditors.
4. From local households: Slavery was also a common practice in local households within Mesopotamia. Many families owned slaves who would provide labor and perform various tasks for the household members.
Mesopotamia acquired the people they enslaved through various means. Here are the possible ways they obtained slaves:
1. From war with other areas: One way Mesopotamia acquired slaves was through military conquests or conflicts with neighboring regions. During the wars, captives were often taken as prisoners and then forced into slavery.
2. From political alliances with other areas: Mesopotamia sometimes formed alliances with other regions or kingdoms. As part of these alliances, they would receive slaves as a form of tribute or payment from their allied partners.
3. From people who could not pay their debts: In Mesopotamia, if individuals were unable to pay off their debts, they could be sold into slavery to repay what they owed. This practice was common and served as a means for creditors to recover their money.
4. From local households: Slavery also occurred within Mesopotamia itself. Wealthy families sometimes owned slaves who were acquired through various means such as birth (children born to enslaved parents), purchase, or as gifts.
These were some of the ways that Mesopotamia acquired people they enslaved. Please note that there may be additional factors and nuances in the historical record, but these are the main sources mentioned by historians and ancient texts.