Final answer:
Early Mesopotamians lived in city-states, which were independent entities with shared culture and language but distinct rulers, preceding the formation of larger empires.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early Mesopotamians lived in city-states, which means they shared a common language and culture but were not unified under a single ruler.
Each city-state was governed by its own ruler, usually a king, who worked in conjunction with the priesthood to control daily activities and conduct affairs such as trade and warfare.
These city-states were home to the Sumerians, who were known for their polytheistic religion as well as their advances in technology and governance. An example is the Sumerian city of Uruk, which is one of history's first true cities.
The concept of city-states predates the formation of the first empire, which was created by Sargon of Akkad when he united the Sumerian city-states. The Akkadians went on to adopt and adapt the Sumerian culture and language, eventually establishing their own empire.
Therefore, when referring to early Mesopotamia's city-states, it's important to recognize that they were independent entities often engaged in conflicts with one another and external forces, preceding the formation of larger empires.