Question

Since turning flax into linen was so labor-intensive, in Uruk linen was reserved for the __________ and statues of the __________. It was much easier to produce fabric out of wool. Men in Uruk wore woolen __________ below their knees. Paying tribute may have forced poor families to sell their daughters into debt slavery to work in urban textile workshops that employed thousands.

a) Elite
b) Commoners
c) Merchants
d) Slaves

Answer 1

In Uruk, linen was a luxury fabric restricted to the elite and deities, while men commonly wore woolen skirts. Textile production, especially linen, was highly labor-intensive, often leading to debt slavery for poor families.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since turning flax into linen was so labor-intensive, in Uruk linen was reserved for the elite and statues of the gods. Because of the complexity and effort required to produce linen, it was uncommon for commoners or those with less social standing, such as merchants or slaves, to have access to it. Linen's exclusivity made it a luxury fabric for ceremonial use, and it was also offered to deities as part of religious and cultural practices. Wool, in contrast, was much more accessible in Uruk and thus widely used for clothing.

Men in Uruk wore woolen skirts below their knees. These skirts were practical garments suited to the climate and social activities of the time. The complex social and economic systems in Uruk also sometimes resulted in poor families being pushed into selling their daughters into debt slavery to work in textile workshops. These workshops were significant urban enterprises, some managed by women, and were central to Uruk's economy.