In chapter 6 of Age of Empires, Joannes discusses the socioeconomic statuses and conditions of the neo-Babylonian time period. From his description of the social hierarchy that existed, it is evident that a strict social system was in place where people had well defined statuses and roles in society. Joannes first separates the people of Babylonia into the free people and the slaves, but mentions that being “free” did not necessarily mean that one could be independent. Slaves that belonged to private families were simply treated as property and used as economic resources that either worked in the fields or did managerial work depending on the status of the family. The slaves of the temple, known as oblates, were also used primarily for manual labor, and very few of them had a chance at a substantial career in the temple. Dependents were those who were not technically the property of other people, but were also not economically free enough to own land and depended on temples and the palace for places to work. The “urban notables” were those who were lucky enough to have an education. Even within each family roles were assigned, such as the male head of each family being the primary decision maker. The picture that Joannes paints of Babylonian society in chapter 6 is one of a very categorized society. It seems as though each member of society is either prosperous from birth or trapped in an unfortunate socio-economic condition that they have no choice but to remain a part of.
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