Two cultures, Mesopotamians and Hebrew, despite being separated through time and geography, are very similar. Among these similarities were their flood stories. Both cultures felt they had displeased their God or gods, though either sin or clamor, and in anger these deities decided to flood and kill all of humankind. In both cases, the God or gods took pity on a single family, allowing them to live and prosper. Both Noah and Utnapishtim were instructed to take all animals on the boat. In the case of the Hebrews, there was a specific number of each animal that should be taken on the boat. This number was seven. The Mesopotamians emphasized this same number, but in relation to how long it rained. Obviously the dove is a sacred bird in both cultures
Compare & Contrast Paper: Mesopotamia vs. Egypt In this paper I will be telling you about the similarities and differences between Mesopotamia and Egypt. My first topic will be the similarities and differences of their politics. My second topic that I will be talking about is the similarities and differences between their Religion.
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.
Although Mesopotamia and Egypt have some things in common, they are different in many ways. Mesopotamia did not have as many people as Egypt did. Also, Egypt had specialized workers that are called the wealthy landowners. Mesopotamia did not have any specialized workers that were wealthy. Mesopotamia and Egypt had different types of specialized workers.
After the flood waters had ceased, both Utnapishtim and Noah sent out a series of bird to check if it was safe to come out of their large boats and then were rewarded for their obedience. Utnapishtim sent out a dove, swallow and raven, with whom each found land, and Noah sent out a raven and a dove, which was sent out twice. When both men exited their ships, their God/gods rewarded them greatly, but with different things. Enlil, the war god blessed Utnapishtim and his family by saying, “You and your wife shall be like gods. You shall live in the distance at the river’s mouth, at the source” (Gilgamesh 10). For Noah, God promised him, “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything”
Writing Assignment Egypt and Mesopotamia both have similarities as well as differences. The geography of the two civilizations are similar because a river plays an important part in their way of living. They are different because Mesopotamia is divided into regions. The governments of the two countries have large differences. The advances in technology and science were relatively similar as well because both countries invented writing systems and irrigation systems.
He finds Utnapishtim, the one in the Faraway place and the only mortal granted immortality by the gods. He wants to have what Utnapishtim has and he can't: the "prize" granted to Utnapishtim for a task well accomplished in saving the species before the flood. The story of the flood is probably the strongest passage that connects Mesopotamian traditions to the Hebrews' and the main difference lays in the moral value the Hebrews place on the story, versus the lack of it of the Mesopotamians. This lack of moral
The Hebrew and Babylonian myths are two different versions of how the earth was created. Even though there are perspectives of how the world was created they do have some similarities. The point of the two views intertwine with each other because they are consistent with the events.
While the Israelites originated in Mesopotamia then lived as slaves in Egypt, before escaping. The Mesopotamians had a much gloomier outlook on life after death. Despite Mesopotamian and Egyptian differences, both of these cultures were polytheistic, meaning they believed in multiple gods (course readings, section 3). This was different than the Hebrew people, who settled in the land between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Judaism believed in one god and one god only. In Egypt and Mesopotamia, the numerous gods behaved like humans. Humans understood the gods; they just couldn’t control them. The Judaic god was all-powerful. Everything was part of God’s plan, Humans had to keep faith and follow the laws that God laid down.
Both Gilgamesh and Noah build arks because of an impending devastation of the earth by rain and flooding. Shamash had warned, "In the evening, when the rider of the storm sends down the destroying rain, enter the boat and batten her down." (p. 147) God told Noah, "For in seven days' time I will make it rain upon the earth, forty days and forty nights, and I will blot out from the earth all existence that I created." (p. 172) Both boats were built to detailed specifications in order to withstand the torrents of rain. Following the cessation of the rain, both Noah and Gilgamesh send out birds as a test of the recession of the waters so that they can safely exit onto the land. Gilgamesh sends first a dove, then a swallow, and then a raven, who, "…saw that the waters had retreated, she ate, she flew around, she cawed, and she did not come back." (p. 148) Noah first sends a raven which, "…went to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. " (p. 173) He then sends a dove that returns to the ark having found no resting place. After seven days Noah again sends the dove which returns with an olive leaf in its bill. "Then Noah knew that the waters had decreased on the earth. He waited still another seven days and sent the dove forth; and it did not return to him any more." (p. 173) Both Noah and Gilgamesh, immediately upon leaving their boats, make a sacrifice. Gilgamesh says, "Then I threw everything open to
Both Mesopotamia and Egypt, between 3000 and 600 B.C.E., had similarities and differences. Both regions shared similar economic structure in regards to agriculture, trade, and taxes. However, Mesopotamia and Egypt differ in regards to religion concerning belief in afterlife, influence of gods, and religious influence on government, as well as technology as it regards weaponry, scientific study, and writing.
Hebrew and Babylonian are two different versions of hot the earth was created. Even though there are perspective of how the world was created they do have some similarities. The broad point of the two views intertwine with each other because they are more the same than different.
Mesopotamia and Egypt had many similarities and differences. Two similarities are their patriarchal societies and their use of metallurgy to produce tools and weapons. Two differences were the different styles of written language and the rule of kings in Mesopotamia verses the rule of pharaohs in Egypt. Mesopotamia and Egypt both used a patriarchal society that vested public and private authority in adult men. For instance, men not only held high positions in government, but also controlled household affairs.
The Egyptian civilization and Mesopotamian civilization, at their peak times, had numerous similarities and many differences. They brought civic establishments, thoughts and procedures into the world that affected the improvement of different social orders the world over.
The physical environments of Egypt and Mesopotamia do explain their cultural differences. Egyptians had natural barriers and fertile, predictable land, while Mesopotamians had unpredictable land and no protection from invaders. These key differences are the basis of the cultural differences between the two regions, and explain different parts of their culture, such as their outlook on life/afterlife and their rulers.
They brought writing, the wheel, the calendar, and astronomy. Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt allowed human beings, for the first time in history, to settle down in one place and farm instead of chasing their often dangerous wild animal food sources. Both civilizations shared similarities and differences in their climate, politics, intellect, religion, arts and architecture, technology, economics, and social structures, that allowed them to flourish and become two of the most well-known ancient civilizations.