Mesopotamia Vs Egypt

Ancient civilizations across history have shown unique and incredible feats of mankind. Arguably, two of the most prominent ancient civilizations in the Middle East and even the world are the Mesopotamians (Beginning 5,000 B.C.) and Egyptians (Beginning 3,150 B.C). Even though these two civilizations peaked about 2,000 years apart, they share numerous similarities contributing to their success, and also show even more differences that distinguish how each had a unique culture and way of life.

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.

The introduction of 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.

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

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

Mesopotamia and Egypt were very different because of their geography and world view. Mesopotamia was often flooded because of their bad geography, but the land around the Nile river was built well so the Egyptians didn 't have to worry about the river flooding as often. The land in Mesopotamia was often attacked and invaded. Ultimately the geography of Egypt was significantly better than Mesopotamia because of the benefits of the nile river created a positive world view, a strong government and a universal 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.

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.

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.

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.

Mesopotamia and Egypt were both part of the creation of the worlds first civilizations. These countries shared many similarities and differences within their society, political structure, and their religions. Mesopotamian and Egypt both flourished near rivers in which enabled them to become an agricultural enriched society. While both civilizations had the advantage of the rivers, Egypt did not have the fertile hinterland that allowed Mesopotamia to excel in agriculture. Through a political standpoint one can see the similarities of the Mesopotamians and Egyptians political structure, but they practiced different laws according to their society. In religion both Mesopotamia and Egypt worship the same way, but the nature of there gods are

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

For example, although they had similar religious bases, their level of achievements and their political bases were very different. The largest similarity between the Mesopotamian civilization and the Egyptian civilization is their religion. Both civilizations were polytheistic. This means that they worshiped several gods.

At the northern tip of Mesopotamia were some mountains that flowed water down into the Tigris and Euphrates. The rivers made the land closest to the edge of the river beds the most fertile land in the area. When the rivers flooded they carried silt to the banks. That silt was full of rich minerals providing the land its best place where crops could be planted. There was limited amount of timber to build houses in the area so many early settlers had to travel further into Mesopotamia’s mountainous region to locate actual trees to use. Many of the houses were built from the mud and clay that was located closest to the river edge. Early settlers also had to get their Stone from the mountain regions and they had limited availability of that as well. Egypt, like Mesopotamia, built their civilizations and cities closest to the river’s edge where they were able to farm their land and develop their city centers into thriving communities for many years. Southern regions of Mesopotamia were also barren but the area nearest where the rivers converge there were many marshy lands. This afforded the early settlers the ability to understand irrigation as they watched the water flow over the land. This was one important factor in Mesopotamia’s success as the settlers were able to carry the vision of water flowing over the land into developing irrigation for the dryer lands nearer to the northern civilizations. The

Egypt is a country found on the northeast corner of Africa. While Mesopotamia is found between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates in the western part of the Middle East. Both of these countries share the Mediterranean Sea. Even though in distance they did not seem far apart they had similarities, and differences in their two cultures. Both Egypt and Mesopotamia had unique religions, writing systems, literature, scientific achievements, art, and intricate architecture.