Mesopotamia and Egypt were very different cultures and the way of life contrasted dramatically. Religion in Mesopotamia and Egypt was based off of many different aspects of their culture and land, but geography was a large influence in the way that the Mesopotamians and the Egyptians created their religion.
In Mesopotamia, religion was created as a way to explain the unexplainable. People wanted to give a reason for the floods and other setbacks they had in their region. Therefore, the gods were malicious. They did not portray their gods as friendly, they gave their gods spiteful qualities to begin to explain why the gods caused them the harmful flooding they would get each year. For example, their god of the river and floods was named Marduk,
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.
The setting is around 3000 BCE, surrounded on all sides by vast, arid deserts, steep cliffs, and extensive bodies of water. And, in these massive deserts civilization exists; there are grand, shining empires, pillars of humanity. Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia, both known as cradles of civilization, were hosts to some of the greatest ancient kingdoms of mankind. These empires shared a number of common practices due to similar geographical settings, but likewise they were different in their structure, customs, and views. The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia shared many similarities; however Egypt was more prosperous economically, established a superior, unwavering political structure, and possessed more unified and content religious views.
While describing the cultural among the people of Mesopotamia and Egypt, I learned the differences and similarities in culture. The birth of Mesopotamian Civilization began in c. 3000 B.C.E., in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers of Southwest Asia. Mesopotamia is a Greek word and it means ‘between the rivers.’ In contrast, the birth of Egyptian Civilization began in c. 3100 B.C.E., in a valley of the Nile River in Northeastern Africa. Egypt is a Greek word and it means ‘House of the Spirit of Ptah.’ Since there are several categories in the cultures of the Mesopotamians and the Egyptians, I decided to narrows it to three categories: Religion, Writing, and Geography. The three categories will present the basis to compare cultural differences and similarities.
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
Religion was an important factor in the everyday lives of Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians. Both civilizations were polytheistic which meant they worshiped multiple gods. Many elaborate temples were built to praise them. The leaders in both regions were believed to be related to the gods because of the great power they held and wealth under their control. Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife. When people died, they were buried with items to take along.
The Egyptians and Mesopotamian people shared many similarities and differences. These early civilizations revealed the dependency on geography, religion, and their leaders. Accordingly, geography defined each societies physical, social, and religious organizations. In the egyptians civilization they could expect when the river would rise and fall unlike Mesopotamia, they did not know when a flood would happen.
First off, Egypt and Mesopotamia had quite a few similar beliefs. The religious systems in these areas had a government system which combined political with religious elements, or a theocracy. In a theocracy, gods are the leaders as opposed to appointed leaders. Their will is carried out by priests or a king. The way this was implemented in Egypt and Mesopotamia differed slightly.
Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia were both ancient civilizations that were founded between 3500 BCE to 3000 BCE it was a time where people finally got together and formed a community where people could farm instead of hunting and gathering while wandering from place to place. Egypt and Mesopotamia were also both built upon great rivers for Egypt it was the Nile, and for Mesopotamia it was the Tigris and Euphrates. These rivers is what helped create the civilizations that we know of today because the rivers would flood at least once a year and the flooding of the river would create fertile soil for farmers every year. Both civilizations also had a similar view on religion as well both believing in many gods or polytheism. These two ancient civilizations
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.
Egyptian and Sumerian religions developed differently because their respective geographic environments caused them to hold divergent views of their lives. Since the geography in Sumer and Egypt was different, they held different views about their gods and beliefs. Even though they were two of the first civilizations, they developed different beliefs about their religion.
Mesopotamia and Egypt’s civilization were developed near the river valleys, which were the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the Nile river. Their rivers were different, though. The Nile river had an annual replenishing of soil and water for Egypt’s agriculture. The Tigris and Euphrates of Mesopotamia also had an annual rising of water, except that the water would sometimes flood their crops.
With the rise of the first civilizations, both Mesopotamia and Egypt were prevailing civilizations. One could say that they had many similarities, but just as many differences. Because of their similarity and differences that's what made them early civilizations.
Humans during their history have passed through different civilizations. These civilizations are developed based on their different ideologies or religions. Two of the eldest civilizations in our human history are Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. Despite that they have lived and developed at the same period of time as well as geographically are located very close to each other; we can still say that they were different in their ideologies about religion. Therefore, in this essay I will discuss the differences in their religion by elaborating their view about the life after death, kings (Pharaohs) as gods, as well as similarities that they have between their gods, but still with some differences about how their gods created this world.
For example, both civilizations were political monarchies. These governments gave the basis to the social structure. Egypt and Mesopotamia share other differences since Mesopotamia developed first as a civilization without influence, while Egypt built off of the latter to create their own society. A difference between Mesopotamia and Egypt was Egypt was a united country, well under control of one pharaoh while those of Mesopotamia were limited to certain areas either in the north, middle or south. Both of these civilizations shared similarities as well.
Egyptian religious beliefs shared some similarities with Mesopotamian beliefs, but differenced in many important ways. Egyptians had numerous explanations for the formation of the