Similarities Between Egypt And Mesopotamia

There were many ways that the Ancient Egyptian society and the Mesopotamian society were similar yet at the same time they were very different. Egyptians and Sumerians agreed on religion in a sense that both cultures were polytheistic. However, the relationships between the gods and goddesses were different between the Sumerians and Egyptians. This essay will discuss those differences in culture, religion and the viewpoints on death and afterlife.

Most societies that developed in ancient civilizations were centered around their belief systems. The Egyptians and the Mesopotamians were no different in this sense. Both civilizations were polytheistic and built elaborate temples to praise their gods. Additionally, the leaders in both regions were believed to be related to the gods because of the great power they held and the wealth under their control. However, the Mesopotamians had a pessimistic outlook on life because of the unpredictability of their environment. The Egyptians, on the other hand, had an optimistic outlook because the Nile River inundated their region regularly, which could be predicted by the stars. The similarities and differences in the religions of these two

Mesopotamian and Egyptian religions shared two key similarities: polytheism and priestly authority. The religions in Mesopotamia and

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

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 world of the ancient Near East believed in a creator deity as member within a plethora of deities; that is, there was no supreme being. Within this plethora, each deity held a specific responsibility, representing such matters as order, justice, love, and truth, to name but a few. Among ANE inhabitants, according to Philip J. Nel, “a normative principle of justice was maintained as part and parcel of the created universe. The human life-world and the order of nature were seen as inextricable entwined.” It is not surprising, therefore, how ancient civilizations understood justice to be a concomitant attribute of a deity within a pantheon of deities; a pantheon where members had origins and, in most instances, were familial in nature. According to their understanding of creation, ancient civilizations held views on social and economic justice as a means that would “facilitate the service of the community to the divine world.” Nel observes that, “The principle of justice was . . . not so much regarded as a system of moral order, but rather the assumption of an existing/created autonomous design/order which should be upheld and adhered to in all sectors of society.” The Sumerians, and the Egyptians, serve as examples.

As civilization has progressed through the ages, many religions have arisen and taken hold around the world, two if the most interesting, being the religious beliefs of the ancient Mesopotamian and the Greeks. These two religions were practiced in different areas and at different times and, therefore, show that religion has played a critical role in every society and civilization. No matter how it is organized or what type of god is worshiped, a society would be nothing without some kind of deity to organize it. In comparing the religious beliefs of the Mesopotamian and the Ancient Greeks religious components highlighted including the style of worship, the temples

The first category of culture is religion. There were several similarities between the Mesopotamians and Egyptians. The Mesopotamians and Egyptians had their own religion and beliefs. Both were polytheistic, meaning they believed in numerous gods or goddesses instead of one god or goddess. There were also several differences between the Mesopotamian and Egyptians. While the Mesopotamians and Egyptians worshiped thousands of deities, there were four main essential deities for the Mesopotamians: An, Enlil, Enki, and Ninhursaga. An was the god of heaven. Enlil was the god of wind and became the power of energy, force, and authority on the earth. Enki was the god of

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.

Egypt and Mesopotamia were societies that “grew up” around the same time period and were neighbors. Both societies shared key differences and similarities. Those big differences and similarities can be seen most in the large rivers they lived near, religion and leadership. Egypt and Mesopotamia grew and flourished next to large rivers, the water being necessary to sustain crops and thus sustain life. Egypt started around the Nile river while Mesopotamia started between the Tigris and Euphrates.

The physical environment plays a tremendous role in the development of all parts of societies. This is especially true in religious development, where nature and geography influence religious myths, rituals and symbols. In Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia water had a significant impact on society. The Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in Mesopotamia permeated all aspects of life. However, although the influence of water was common to both societies, the manner in which it influenced cosmologies and eschatologies was starkly different. In Egypt, the Nile’s stability was life-giving and sustaining, while in Mesopotamia, The Euphrates and Tigris were led to chaos and a disbelief in immortality.

The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia, especially Egypt are widely regarded as the most successful civilizations of their time. They both, were very prosperous in the arts of: architecture, farming and irrigation, and expansion. The Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians’ were the most successful civilizations largely due to their location. The Mesopotamians and Egyptians, were both positioned along major rivers, with Egypt being along the Nile, and ancient Mesopotamia being between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Throughout the history of civilization, religion has played a predominant role in shaping the identities of each civilization. Requiring the act of people coming together in one place like never before in history, religion has brought divine or spiritual significance to many ancient civilizations by providing a society a secular idea that they will follow based on what they believe in. Many historians focus on the tangible foundations of a civilization, religion has aid in bringing these foundations by envisioning possibilities taking a societies’ physical needs beyond explanation, such as the Great Pyramids or Macchu Picchu. Ranging from the Andes into the barring plains of Mesopotamia, examining the religions of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Mesoamerica, specifically the Mayans, and how their views on the afterlife shaped their culture and development.

In Mesopotamia, around 1300 B.C.E to 1000 B.C.E, Old Babylonians edited Epic of Gilgamesh, a poem describes how did Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, try to find the everlasting life. This literature means a lot in history not only because it is almost the earliest written documents, but also because it reflects the worldview about Mesopotamia. For instance, Gods in this poem are pictured as terrible and selfish. Just like Mesopotamia, every ancient region had its own belief. In Egypt, people showed their feelings their Gods in their documents, too. Moreover, India, where owned diverse beliefs, including Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, has special cultures, too. Buddha explains sufferings to his listeners by using his own experiences. I will prove that Mesopotamian Gods will explain life’s ups and downs as people have not fulfilled their duties as servants by examining Epic of Gilgamesh, Enuma Elish and Poem of Righteous Sufferer because the Gods in Mesopotamia were unpredictable, all powerful, and also humanlike, which makes them greedy and selfish. More important, Mesopotamians also believed in fatalism. Furthermore, I will show that Hebrew prophets emphasized that sufferings are trials given by Gods by analyzing Book of Job, Genesis and Exodus. This is because that Egyptians regarded themselves as Gods’ favored since the weather was so much better than Mesopotamia. They considered

Write a paragraph or two about either the Egyptian or Mesopotamian religion. Comment on such things as the nature of the religious faith, major deities, aspects of the religion, and their views of the afterlife.