A central regulating power is essential to organise specialised occupations, such as warriors, merchants, farmers and artisans. In Shem, that regulating power lies in the temples and their chosen king. Shemite cities are ruled by kings who govern the armies and the commerce passing through the cities. There is no one King of Shem. Instead, each city-state in Shem has its own king and government, although most of the cities have similar customs and traditions in regards to government and politics. This aids Shem in keeping the city states competitive trade to the benefit of all; thus no city gets left out because it has fallen out of royal favour with a specific king. Likewise, there is no one single Sheikh of Sheikhs, ruler of all the nomad tribes. Each tribe is governed separately, but a shared culture creates marked similarities from tribe to tribe.
City-State Government Shemite city-states are essentially theocracies. Although there is a hereditary aristocracy and a king, the temples are in charge of the city-state. There is no separation between religious and secular power. The kings of Shem claim a religious and a historical right to rule. Not only are they the representative of their patron god on Earth, they are also the sons of kings, part of a lineage stretching back to the Great Cataclysm. Kingship is hereditary among the Meadow Shemites and Pelishtim. The king is most often from the warrior class, for he must be able to defend the city, enforce the laws, maintain the social order and lead wars. He must also take part in the religious ceremonies of the city-state. Thus he is a warrior and a priest. Many kings of Shem are essentially deified. The wife of the king is a queen, and she is often the high priestess of the citystate, or the personification of a goddess. A king rules often by employing terror. They ruthlessly suppress rebellions through the asshuri. They deport rebellious populations from their city-state if needed, making them wander in the desert to die. They even treat the people they conquer brutally. Despite the employment of cruelty and violence, a Shemite king does not have totalitarian power.
The king of a Shemite city-state is advised by a council of elders and by the priests. The aristocracy function as administrators, working for the king. The aristocrats work as scribes and functionaries in the service of the king. The aristocrats are responsible for drafting commoners to work on community projects, collect taxes in the form of a percentage of their crops and to ensure the canals and other methods of irrigation are in constant repair. Further, the aristocrats divide up the grain they collect for the city to give to its soldiers or any others it supports. The aristocrats exempt themselves from physical labour, however, there is no system for sycophants and hangers-on; each aristocrat has a duty to the king, the temple and the city-state.
Governance
Governance & Law
The priests are charged with maintaining the social statusquo. They tell the commoners their hard labours are necessary because they were created to serve the gods. The priests often sit on the city councils of elders alongside the aristocrats to help advise the king. They help to maintain social order by teaching right belief means nothing, but right behaviour is the key to being blessed by the gods.
Nomad Tribal Government The nomad tribes of Shem are essentially republics governed by opinion and tradition. No one can decree sovereign law to the nomads. No one can even enforce the popular opinion. If a clan feels honour bound to act differently than the rest of the tribe decrees, they are allowed to do so. Honour and revenge is the highest law and the highest government. By placing such importance on honour, the individual nomad is compelled to uphold the name and respect of his family, clan and tribe. The fear of dishonour, not only of self but of family, virtually ensures individual nomads comply with the wishes of the majority. The importance of vengeance allows nomads to pursue individual rights to the death, bringing their entire clan into the conflict, regardless of how small or large the initial slight was. The fear of retribution by friends and relatives causes individual nomads to refrain from rudeness, restraining passionate quarrels. Thus social order among the nomads is maintained.
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