The Mesopotamian and Egyptian empires in ancient times are about as similar as they are different in terms of geographic conditions. This means they have just as many similarities as they do differences. Let’s start with geographic conditions that were beneficial to both. Egypt and Mesopotamia both had rivers close enough to help with farming. These rivers were also useful for trade and transport. One geographic condition that made growing and maintaining ancient civilizations difficult for both the Egyptians and the Mesopotamians was flooding. Both groups solved this issue by creating dikes and irrigation systems. Between the Egyptians and the Mesopotamians, differences obviously occurred. For example, the Egyptians did not need to fear being
“The plains flood when the river rises, and is blessed with the riches that brings people merriment.” ( Egypt Mesopotamia Comparison Essay, page 1). For the majority Mesopotamia and Egypt were both agricultural civilizations. Due to the geographical features, life from these two civilization were crucially rely on their rivers. However, the Nile were far more significant to the Egyptians than the Tigris and Euphrates do to Mesopotamia. Although they all shared the same demandings but they were exceptional different from each other in many ways. Egyptian and Mesopotamian economy, agriculture, geography, political societies, culture, and religion varies in more ways than one may realize.
Historians are confident that Mesopotamia and Egypt are the earliest documented civilizations based on archaeological evidence. They are known for their innovations in technology, agriculture, and law, which society uses today. The evidence from various researches by credible historians and archeologist shows that indeed both civilizations had a legal system whether written or not. The Mesopotamian people were tame by rules put forth by Hammurabi – the sixth king of Ancient Babylon – referred to as Hammurabi’s Code by historians. The Mesopotamian government went to great lengths to spell out their laws, and consequences for breaking them, in depth detail; on the other hand, Egypt failed to do the same. While less visible proof of Egyptian law exists today, there is evidence that proves they had a structured and progressive legal society. Even though both societies were advanced, their legal system in many ways contrasted each other.
Around seven thousand years ago there existed two main civilizations: Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, and Ancient Egypt along the Nile. Even though Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt were both advanced civilizations they had many differences such as their government, religion, as well as their trade and society. Mesopotamian culture thought negatively about its gods, and had conflict, cultural diffusion, and a decentralized government while Ancient Egypt thought highly of its gods, had a centralized and united government and civilization, and did not trade with other nations. These distinctions were due in part to Mesopotamia’s unpredictable flooding, lack of borders, and its close proximity to three
During the period from 2700 B.C.E to 1000 B.C.E., the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt shared many similarities. Both have kingships, farming and agriculture, technology and metallurgy, grain storage, and a system of hierarchy that included slavery. Although they are quite similar, they show differences as well, including their perspective of the afterlife and the fact that Mesopotamia experienced conquests while documents showed Egypt as a conqueror.
The most significant part in the evolution of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia was geography, permitting the civilizations to thrive along the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. The construction of ancient civilizations along the river valleys enabled them to grow through trade along the river. Growth in population generated a significant need for agriculture and the inhabitants of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia looked to the gods to obtain these necessities. Access to neighboring civilizations through river trade served to cultural advancements in each society. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia each had similarities in how their civilizations grew by the geography of their
In Egypt, the government was more authoritative and strict like our government today is on its people where as the Mesopotamians had more of a stress on the place as a city or state would. Differences are also evident in building structures because Mesopotamian art was more simplistic than Egyptian. Egypt excelled in art because it was extremely intricate. Mesopotamia also and contained a stronger literature than the Egyptian culture did. Each culture achieved great art, literature, architecture, and religious customs though their methods and style differ.
In Mesopotamia and Egypt, Civilizations began to develop around river valleys. In Mesopotamia, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and in Egypt, The Nile River. Both of the river valley civilizations had different geographic features, for example, predictable vs. unpredictable flooding, which shaped the civilizations in different, but also, similar ways. Early Mesopotamia and early Egypt developed different world views while also producing social structures with similarities.
The world began with a simple norm, survival of the fittest. The first people of the human race used whatever resources available to survive. Then we transitioned into a revolution where countless technological advances like irrigation and farming, formed some of the world’s first civilizations. Leading to the development of new cultures everywhere . Some of these civilizations formed in the middle east such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. Overall, Egypt and Mesopotamia are more different than similar because politically, they had different forms of government, culturally they had contrasting perceptions of their gods. However a notable similarity is socially Egypt and Mesopotamia had almost identical social hierarchies.
We all wonder at some point in time how the first civilization of humans led to the world we have today. Studying this progression, we come upon many fascinating places, things, and peoples of different traditions. The most prominent development, in my opinion, would be the development of civilizations (Yes back before internet!). The first of these civilizations would be the Mesopotamians and the Egyptians. Although both Egypt and Mesopotamia developed at the same time, environment and natural forces had profound impact in terms of political systems, religion, and social stability. In this paper I will discuss the many similarities but many differences as well in these early civilizations.
Mesopotamia and Egypt, two of the earliest regions that held civilizations, are credited with the beginnings of many qualities seen in civilizations around the world today. It is important to compare and contrast these two societies to better understand the outset of the many facets of life we know today. Despite developing separately from one another, Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia bore a striking resemblance to each other through their religious beliefs and class system, however they differed from one another when it came to writing and recording methods.
Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt are very alike in some ways for one thing Egyptian and Mesopotamian technology, Egypt's average life span was 36 years and the Mesopotamian lifespan was around 40 years. Also not that many people could read or write, only a few people read and wrote for a living. These people were called scribes in Mesopotamia and in Ancient egypt only the wealthy could
The two civilizations had leaders that they believed were close to god. They have different law and order systems. The Egyptians had set punishment for certain crimes, while the Mesopotamian had similar systems but with the Hammurabi code which was “Eye for an Eye”. Their political systems for a majority were like a monarchy/dictatorship. In both civilizations they had certain gender norms. In Egypt men and women were treated as equals for a majority but the still had different roles. They both got education because they believed education was very important. Women in Egypt had the role of baring and raising children and responsible for family and domestic issues. Men on the other had taught there boys how to trade or how to do the same labor they did and provided for the family. When Egyptians kids turned 14 they would help their dad or mom depending on what sex they were. Mesopotamia had different views men clearly had more power and the women were not treated as equals. Men went to work with their sons and women stayed home took care of the family with the
The development that arose around Egypt (Nile River) and Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates) are very different. Geologically speaking, they were in different places and focused on different things. For example, Egypt focused on a central authority system where managing costly defection is done effectively, yet smaller problems are harder to address or “fix” because of their limits to their abilities of monitoring. Mesopotamia in contrast had a government that their politics focused more of regional city to state problems. When it came to “artistic abilities” I would say that they were very similar in their attention to details but once again, they had a bit of differences even in this. Mesopotamia focused on smaller art and monumental pieces,
Roots of Western civilization are found in the Middle East, which is Turkey, Palestine, and Mesopotamia. In Greek Mesopotamia means the land between two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates in today’s Iraq. Mesopotamia was a collection of assorted cultures who were bonded by their script, their gods, and their attitude towards women. Mesopotamia is known as the “cradle of civilization” because of the rise of the city as we recognize that entity today and the invention of writing. Egypt is often referred to as the “gift of the Nile” because it is located in the largest and driest desert in the world, the Sahara. Egypt had a peaceful and continuous development compared to other ancient civilizations. Isolation kept foreign influences and ideas from distorting their cultural balance and they were free from foreign invasion for most of their history. Egypt was a unified country with one people, one language, and one religion. The Mesopotamian and the Egyptian civilization are very similar yet different in their own ways.
The Egyptian civilization and the Mesopotamian civilization developed at roughly the same time, by 3,100 BC, in nearby regions, probably with some indirect contact. However, these two earliest states/civilizations are often compared in that it has similarities, yet, also differences within the society and culture. Many aspects of the two civilizations can be compared, for instance, geography, politics, culture, economics, religion, arts, and etc. Among these various differences, I will be focusing on the writing system of each civilization, as it was the key characteristics