How did Mesopotamia acquire the people they enslaved?(1 point)

Responses

from local households
from local households

from political alliances with other areas
from political alliances with other areas

from war with other areas
from war with other areas

from people who could not pay their debts

from people who could not pay their debts

Mesopotamia acquired the people they enslaved through multiple means including:

1. From local households: Some individuals were enslaved from within Mesopotamian society itself, either as a form of punishment for crimes or as a result of being unable to pay their debts.

2. From political alliances with other areas: Mesopotamia also obtained slaves through political alliances with neighboring regions. In some cases, conquered territories were required to provide slaves as tribute to the ruling power.

3. From war with other areas: The acquisition of slaves through warfare was another common practice in Mesopotamia. When Mesopotamian armies conquered other cities or regions, they often enslaved the population of the conquered area.

4. From people who could not pay their debts: Debt slavery was prevalent in Mesopotamia, and individuals who were unable to repay their debts would often be enslaved to work for their creditors.

These various methods allowed Mesopotamia to acquire a significant number of slaves, who would then be used for various purposes such as agricultural labor, household chores, or as concubines.

Mesopotamia acquired the people they enslaved through various means. Here are the possible ways they obtained slaves:

1. From local households: One way was by taking slaves from within their own society. In Mesopotamia, individuals could become enslaved if they were unable to pay off their debts or if they were sold into slavery by their own families.

2. From political alliances with other areas: Mesopotamian states sometimes formed alliances with neighboring regions or conquered territories. As part of these political agreements, the victorious state or ruler often demanded enslaved individuals as part of the spoils of war or tributes.

3. From war with other areas: Another way Mesopotamia acquired slaves was through warfare. They would conquer and subjugate neighboring city-states or tribal groups, capturing the defeated populations and enslaving them.

4. From people who could not pay their debts: In Mesopotamia, if someone failed to repay their debts, they could be forced into slavery as a means of settling their obligations.

In summary, Mesopotamia acquired slaves from local households, through political alliances with other regions, through war and conquest, and from individuals who were unable to pay their debts.