Egypt And China Comparison Essay

There were four main ancient River Valley civilizations: the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia, the Nile River of Egypt, the Indus River of India, and the Yellow River of China. These civilizations showed specific similarities and contrasting differences. Many of these differences and similarities showed up in the three categories of the technological advances, the types of government, and the geography of the civilization. Two civilizations that are very interesting to delve deeper into and study the contrasting societies are China and Egypt. Since China and Egypt were both isolated from the outside, they developed with a strong focus on technology and learning with strong governments to hold the nations together.

The earliest forms of civilizations were said to be located on the three river valleys of the Tigris-Euphrates River in ancient Mesopotamia, the Nile River in ancient Egypt and the Huang He and Indus River in ancient India and China. These three river valley civilizations had many differences yet still lived common life styles. Although the civilizations are located on different continents, they share similar social, political, and economic beliefs from their intellectual developments to types of government to religious beliefs and trading systems.

The ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt develop into successful civilizations by having floods from the nile river that provided water, food and fertile area in the middle of the desert as document 1 states. In document 2 it says that they also had rivers that provided many resources such as transportation, trade as well as plants, the rivers were surrounded by deserts.

In comparing Ancient Egypt and modern day Americas, I found a few similarities and differences in their every day lifestyles. Things like religion, government, social class, writing, and their job specializations. It was surprising to me to find out that the ancient Egyptians way of leaving was somewhat like ours. Of course there are heavier differences, but still they were very modern for their times. Also I am in strong belief that we learned many things that are in our culture today from Ancient Egypt.

Known as one of the earliest civilizations, Mesopotamia and Egypt both share set amounts of similarities along with a share of striking distinctions. Environmentally, these two civilizations were formed in similar surroundings, yet their weather patterns show distinctions. Politically, both governments derived from a monarch, yet their laws and punishments distinguished the two’s court systems. Economically, they both shared prosperous success in similar manners. Socially, although the two lands followed a hierarchy, the value of women contrasted. Culturally, they both believed in a higher order of creation; however, their views of them were polar opposites. Intellectually, these two societies developed skilled abilities and creations that

When comparing The Shang River civilization (China) The Nile River civilization (Egypt) during the Bronze Age there were similarities and differences. Politically, they were similar and different because both governments were a dynasty and they governed their lands differently socially they were similar and different because both civilizations had distinct social classes and they had differences when it came to women’s rights. However, based on close observation (or close analysis) Ancient Egypt was more successful.

Ancient Egypt and Early China, though continents and ideologies apart, both depended upon a king leader to rule over those in their territories. Despite fundamental differences, each society developed a clear social hierarchy with the foundation of advanced civilization being the lesser educated workers or slaves, and being lead by

The first topic of comparison is the prospect of culture and environment in each society. Due to cultural diffusion amongst the civilizations, except geographically isolated China, among other factors, it can be deduced that the civilizations had many similar practices. However, each society boasted distinctive qualities. Early Mesopotamia, known by the moniker of “the land between the rivers,” was a fertile plain settled near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers located in the Fertile Crescent. All of the river valley civilizations settled near a river. Egypt settled near the Nile; the Indus Valley

Geography had a tremendous impact on early civilizations, the topography of the different regions played a key role in their development and formation. This statement by Fernand Braudel “ Geography is the stage in which humanity’s endless dramas are played out” (Getz et al., Exchanges, 26) is a very moving and telling description. The terrain, whether it is natural or man made is not the end all, be all. It does however affect the stage a great deal. Mountainous areas act as blockades, which keep the societies independent, plains open up the area, and rivers enable everything to move around freely. 2

When people even mention ancient egypt, loads of things pop up like mummies, ruins,deaths,chaos, and none reasoning time period. Although in this case we have the wrong interpretation of how they actually loved their daily life better than americans do today . How can a lost civilization like ancient Egypt could even compare to American culture? Not only by how Egyptians had organized social standards, lifestyle, money, and how women’s rights were highly respected in the eyes of their people and government. Were as Americans are is still having trouble of picking the next president.

Mesopotamia had begun to see people near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and they all spread out not too long after. The first sign of settlement in Egypt was located near the Nile Delta. First settlers were spotted by the Indus River Valley for India. China began by the yellow river. Soon everyone that one first located dispersed and grew to be a part of their culture and land at which they were promptly discovered. In comparison, each of these civilizations first began by a river. From that river they began their new society that continued to grow and discover. All the areas showed a sign of life and a chance to

These three civilizations created cultures that built societies and people for future generations. Starting around 3100 BC they began. The rule of King Menes began the Egyptian civilization by unifying the Upper and Lower Egypt into one kingdom (Duiker and Speilvogel 17). The Mesopotamian civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, began with the Sumerians people (Duiker and Speilvogel 9). Also, in now what is modern day India, another civilization began. It was located in the Indus River Valley with the Harappan people (Duiker and Speilvogel 38). Three early civilizations laid the foundation for what would be the progression of future civilizations, all of which would greatly influenced the world.

During the years of 3500 BC to 2500 BC, the geography of a land often impacted a civilizations development in great measures. Depending on the resources available or the detriments present due to certain topographical characteristics like rivers or deserts, a civilization could flourish or collapse. By studying the geographic features of growing societies like the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris Rivers as well as the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the link between developing cultures and geography will be examined through sources, including Egypt: Ancient Culture, Modern Land edited by Jaromir Malek and Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek. To determine the extent

The civilizations of early China, Nubia, the Eurasian steppes and the Celtic’s emerge from very different places for example the Nubians and the Celts came from very different environments with the Nubians being from a very hot place and the couch from a cold place with that being said these countries still had to develop a way to respond to the environment opportunities and challenges such as the lack of rainfall or the lack of fertile land.

The distinct characteristics of Ancient civilizations laid the foundation for future civilizations. Early civilizations developed distinct characteristics such as complex government, social, and economic structures. They also had distinct religion and major innovations. Some of the Ancient civilizations with distinct characteristics are Sumer, Babylon, Ancient Egypt and Israel. These civilizations existed between the time periods of about 3300 B.C. and about 332 B.C.