It affected their social lives, and there was very little trade between the two regions (the only ones around.) They also needed many people. They developed irrigation and drainage systems which caused many people to work.
I would guess gathering food and hunting, although sleeping might also be N1
People, who were classified as a new middle-class were people that started to make their own careers (starting business of getting a well-paid job), they have observed a great growth in their salaries at that time and had a lot of leisure time.
Expertise had a very important role - people believed that it is a solution to the weakness of society.
