You are here
Beyond the textbook.
Yes, in the role they play.
Sumerian ziggurat
Indian temple
The city grew around it
Towns often grew around a large temple
Tied to
agriculture, trade and transport of goods
Held land, employed people, and hosted fairs and markets
Centre of
religious and social
life
Centre of festivals, learning, music and dance
Entry to the sacred part restricted to priests
The inner sanctum is entered by priests
Main point: in both, the temple was not only a place of worship . It was also the centre of social and money matters .
NCERT question · LET'S EXPLORE, page 80
Do you find any similarities between the temples in India and those of the Sumerian civilisation as centres of socio-cultural and economic activity?
