Final answer:
The statement is false; Sumerians believed their city-states were owned by the patron gods, not the people. Sumerian city-states each had a dedicated deity honored at the temple, which was the societal and religious center. Priestly governors linked people and gods, emphasizing the theocratic nature of Sumer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Sumerians believed that their city-states belonged to the people who lived in them is false. In fact, the Sumerians believed that each city-state was 'owned' by its patron deity to whom the city was dedicated and whose temple was the center of the city’s life. Sumer was a land of many city-states, each with its own patron god or goddess. For example, Uruk was dedicated to Inanna, and Ur was dedicated to the moon god Sin. These gods were placed at the center of Sumerian society, and their temples served as the main hub for religious rituals and governance.
The Sumerians were deeply religious and their daily lives were pervaded by the need to honor and please their gods, as they believed that the prosperity and safety of their city-states depended on the happiness of these deities. The immense temple complex, including a ziggurat, was not only a religious center but also a sign of reverence and dedication to the patron deity.
It is evident that Sumerian society was theocratic rather than democratic in nature, with both the spiritual and temporal power being held by priestly governors who served as intermediaries between the people and their gods. Therefore, the belief was not that city-states belonged to the people, but to the gods they worshipped.