Why did priests play an important role in Sumerian city-states?
(1 point)
• Priests were at the top of the Sumerian social order.
• Sumerians believed only priests could communicate with gods to help the city prosper.
Priests and temples controlled much of the surrounding farmlands.
Sumerians feared priests because they led rituals involving human sacrifice
Priests played an important role in Sumerian city-states primarily because:
• Sumerians believed only priests could communicate with gods to help the city prosper.
In ancient Sumerian society, religion was a central aspect of daily life, and the people believed that the gods controlled everything from natural phenomena to the success of their crops and military endeavors. Priests were seen as intermediaries between the people and the divine, capable of interpreting the gods’ will and performing the necessary rituals to secure their favor. They played a crucial role in maintaining the spiritual and physical welfare of the city-state. Additionally, temples were economic centers, and priests often managed the redistribution of goods and resources, which gave them significant control over the city-state's economy.