Sex, Family, and Marriage in Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia endured many changes before becoming what it is today. It’s original state, however, was actually the closest to today’s American society, while present day Mesopotamia is like a mirror image. The ancient Sumerians were very similar in lifestyle to American citizens of today. Even after the conquest of Mesopotamia by the Babylonians, life was more or less free. During the Assyrian age, however, freedom became a distant memory—and that is how the area remains today (though it is no longer called Mesopotamia). Concepts of Ancient Mesopotamia—such as equal rights and freedom of expression—Slowly died out.
The full transition from matriarchy to patriarchy took some sixteen hundred years, but was a swift change once the wheels began to tur.n Mesopotamia actually began as a matriarchy in the Sumerian age, which ran from about 2500 BC-1750 BC. During this time, marriage partners were chosen freely. Husband and wife shared authority in the household, as well as...