How were the rulers of Mesopotamia chosen?

The power was mostly handed down from father to son. Mesopotamian kings were, for the most part, considered to be selected by and ruling on behalf of the gods (like in ancient Egypt), although a few Mesopotamian kings did attempt to claim divinity. read more

The period of 5000–3000 BC saw significant development in food production and the creation of a theocracy, making priests the first rulers of the cities of Mesopotamia. I have not seen any evidence of how these priests were chosen, but one can imagine a group of priests as rulers and some training program to prepare new priests for rule. read more

Unlike the Egyptians of the same period, the kings in Mesopotamia were thought to have come down from the city of gods. Mesopotamians did not believe the kings represented any popular godhead of the time even though the kings named themselves as 'great kings' or 'kings of the universe'. read more

They were usually a part of a dynastic succession which passedkingship fromfathe to son, until there was a revolutio whichstarted a new dynasty. read more