Final answer:
The start of civilizations in Mesopotamia brought about significant changes including the creation of social hierarchies, the rise of organized governance, and the advancement of technology and culture. Urban living, specialization of labor, and centralized authority were key factors in shaping Mesopotamian society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The start of civilizations in Mesopotamia had a significant impact on society by creating structured social hierarchies and organized governance. With the development of agriculture, societies transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more settled urban lifestyle. This change enabled the specialization of labor, development of advanced technology such as writing, large-scale architecture, and the management of irrigation systems by a centralized authority.
Furthermore, the emergence of cities like Uruk led to the rise of city-states, kingdoms, and the spread of intricate Mesopotamian culture. The stratification of society saw rulers and religious leaders often at the top, while the laborers and food growers, who formed the backbone of the society by ensuring a stable food supply and large-scale construction projects, were generally at the bottom of the social pyramid. This stratification was critical to the organization and functionality of Mesopotamian society with the king or lugal often at the top of this hierarchy.
The abundance of food and administrative class also promoted a high level of craft specialization and artistic production. These developments, together with other innovations in astronomy, mathematics, and engineering, formed the bedrock of what is known as Western civilization.