How did the Sumerians view the concept of slavery and servitude?

The Sumerians were one of the earliest civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia, and they had a complex society that included slavery and servitude. The Sumerians believed that slaves were the property of their owners and could be bought and sold like any other commodity. However, they did not view slaves as inferior to free people or as subhuman beings.

Slavery in Sumer was not based on race or ethnicity. Instead, it was typically the result of debt or war. If someone was unable to pay their debts, they could be sold into slavery to pay off what they owed. Slaves could also be captured during wars and were often used as laborers or domestic servants.

While slaves were not treated as equals to free people, they were still protected by laws. Sumerian law codes specified that slaves were entitled to certain rights, such as the right to own property, to marry, and to receive a portion of the harvest. Slaves could also buy their freedom and become free citizens.

Servitude, on the other hand, was a type of voluntary slavery. It was a common practice for Sumerians to enter into a period of servitude to pay off debts or to learn a trade. Servants were not considered property and could not be sold or traded. However, they were obligated to work for their master for a set period of time and were subject to the master's control during that period.