Many would not expect such an early society to be so advanced in gender equality, but Mesopotamia did offer numerous amounts of rights to women. Females could own land, file for divorce, trade freely, and start businesses (Mark). In the eyes of the ancient middle easterners, men and women had equal rights and were both entitled to work for their country. Most of the time this meant farming, but other occupations were also available. Scribes, artisans, weavers, potters, shoemakers, teachers, priests, fishermen, and healers were additional careers Mesopotamia had to offer. The careers of brewing alcoholic beverages and healing were primarily the jobs of the women, until ultimately being overtaken by men