Questions: Why did priests play an important role in Sumerian city-states? (1 point) Priests were at the top of the Sumerian social order. Sumerians believed only priests could communicate with gods to help the city prosper. Priests and temples controlled much of the surrounding farmlands. Sumerians feared priests because they led rituals involving human sacrifice.

The answer is: Sumerians believed only priests could communicate with gods to help the city prosper.

While priests were indeed influential and held a high status in Sumerian society, this option does not fully capture the primary reason for their importance. Their role was more about their religious duties and connection to the divine rather than just their social standing.

This is the correct answer. In Sumerian city-states, religion was central to daily life and governance. Priests were considered intermediaries between the gods and the people. They performed rituals and made offerings to ensure the favor of the gods, which was believed to be essential for the prosperity and well-being of the city-state.

While it is true that temples often controlled significant land and resources, this was a result of their religious role rather than the primary reason for their importance. The control of land was a means to support the temple's activities and the priests' duties.

There is no substantial evidence to suggest that human sacrifice was a common practice in Sumerian religious rituals. This option is not accurate in describing the role of priests in Sumerian society.