Changes

==Ubaid==

What this suggests is that there might not be a clear reason as to why humans begin to have large-scale social inequality. Whatever the reason may have been, the evidence for social inequality is evident by the 6-5th millennium BCE. Perhaps some of the clearest evidence for this in the Ubaid culture (Figure 1) comes from the development of religious institutions. Here, we begin to see large temples, specifically at the site of Eridu in southern Mesopotamia, gaining much greater levels of wealth and resources, not to mention its architectural size increases substantially from previous periods, than other institutions or individuals in society.<ref>For evidence of religious structures, and likely institutions, gaining greater power and authority in the Ubaid, see: Stein, Gil. 1994. “Economy, Ritual, and Power in Ubaid Mesopotamia". In: ''Chiefdoms and Early States in the Near East: The Organizational Dynamics of Complexity'', edited by Gil Stein and Mitchell Rothman. Madison (WI), pg. 35-46.</ref> Larger structures, perhaps administrative buildings, also begin to emerge in settlements, such as at Tell Abada, that are also separated from other parts of settlements, showing that these individuals or institutions began to be separated from others. This physical separation, distinct through walls and also much larger structures within the walls, becomes a hallmark in Mesopotamian societies even in later periods.<ref>For further information about Tell Abada, see: Jasim, Sabah Abboud, and Joan Oates. 1986. “Early Tokens and Tablets in Mesopotamia: New Information from Tell Abada and Tell Brak.” ''World Archaeology'' 17 (3): 348–62. doi:10.1080/00438243.1986.9979975.</ref>

Structures that begin to show differences in size and distinctive differences also begin to have greater evidence for administration. This is noticeable through objects such as seals and sealings, which likely indicates these large structures began to accumulate more goods, which required a form of control and organization utilizing seals. Large institutions, at least by the next period (called the Uruk; 4000-3100 BC), became one of the main employers of labor, suggesting that the accumulation of resources in larger administrative structures further accelerated social inequality where wealth was flowing to these elites, utilizing their wealth to employ other individuals.<ref>For information on the Uruk, see: Rothman, Mitchell S., ed. 2001. ''Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors: Cross-Cultural Interactions in the Era of State Formation''. 1st ed. School of American Research Advanced Seminar Series. Sante Fe, NM: School of American Research Press.</ref> In addition, as warfare became established in society, slavery soon appeared. Slavery may have also developed as a form of punishment for debt.

==Badarian Culture==

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