What were mesopotamian houses clustered around

Central temples of their city-state

Explanation:

Their temples were important and were the main buildings in their cities, so the mud-brick homes were built around them

Mesopotamian Homes      Houses in Mesopotamia tended to be small and crowded. They were often clustered around the central temple or on narrow lanes.       Most Mesopotamians lived in mud-brick homes.    The mud bricks were held together with plaited layers of reeds.

Explanation: The custom of handshaking has been traced back to ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphics, dating back to 2800 B.C., representing the verb "to give," show an extended hand. Kings in ancient Babylon and Assyria grasped the hands of statues of their major Gods during important celebrations and festivals. A 9th century Assyrian relief is the first known depiction of people shaking hands.

where is the passage

answer; criterion validity