Victoria Valean 09-07-13 Period 01 Egypt and Mesopotamia: Compare and Contrast During the New Stone Age, also known as the Agricultural Revolution, two civilizations ascended. Although many similarities can be shown between the two, they each are very different from each other culturally, geographically, socially, politically, and religiously. Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt developed during the same time period, 5000-6000 B.C., geographically; they both had a source main of freshwater; the Nile River for Egypt, and the Tigris and Euphrates River for Mesopotamia. Both civilizations also have access to major trading seas, coming from their main Rivers. Egypt and Mesopotamia’s river’s provided most of the needed water for their crops.
Both of these river valley civilizations had a centralization of power that ruled over their lands. The Mesopotamians started out by being separated into small city states, which are small self – governing urban centers. Then it was lead by head priests who controlled and managed their wealth. It wasn’t until about the third millennium that they gained a king. The king or temple leaders had controlled large agricultural estates, and collected taxes from their subjects.
Egypt V.S. Mesopotamia By Mikal Sykes Around 200B.C.E two great civilizations emerged along river valleys in the Middle East. Egyptian civilization was formed along the Nile river, while the Mesopotamians developed their society between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These two advanced civilizations were more similar than different in their government and economy, religious and social practices, and also advancement. The Egyptians and Mesopotamians had governments and economics with similar features, but were different in how unified they were.
Mesopotamia means ‘between the rivers’ (Dowling). With the rivers on either side, the land remained full of nutrients and perfect for farming.The first known inhabitants of Mesopotamia were the Sumerians. These people formed methods for irrigating the land. Irrigation caused crops to flourish and created a surplus of food. After surplus was established the people began to form other types of trades.
One of the biggest contributions to civilization by the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Hebrews was the invention of agriculture. The Sumerians were a people who lived in the southern portion of Mesopotamia from around 3500 B.C. to 1800 B.C. The Sumerian people lived in twelve city states, famous among which are Sumer and Ur. Kestner states: Sumerian language is possibly the most important aspect of Sumerian culture, and the one that has had the most lasting impact on the modern world and history.
There are many differences and similarities between the Mesopotamian river civilization and Egyptian river civilization. The first difference is economy. Egyptians depended heavily on farming. Being close to the Nile allowed easy access to water needed for crops. Seasonal flooding fertilized the land for the next year's crops and Agriculture was essential for survival, growth, and economic success.
Most peasants had very little and barely made it through the taxes the king reinforced. Culture achievements: The Indus river valley people valued water and cleanliness. They had no weapons which meant no war and there were no signs of violence. They had a wheel that made pottery, they had a writing system but it has not yet been translated. They had a religion and were polytheistic, revered, respected animals, they believed in afterlife.
Global Hilda Betts Period:3 April 21, 2014 Mesopotamia & The Panama Canal Throughout history, the usage and control of waterways such as rivers, canals, straits and seas have had economic and political effects on many societies. Many waterways had different economic and political effects on many societies in Asia’s River System. Mesopotamia site was one of the world's first civilizations, 30 dams along the rivers provide fresh water and hydroelectric power. Their river flows through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Mekong provides irrigation for crops, dry seasons causes lower water level.
(“the River of Sorrow”) B. Early Chinese had little contact with outside peoples because of geographic isolation, so they believed that China was the center of the world. (ethnocentrism) C. Mountains and deserts did not completely protect China from invasions. III. The First Dynasty in China: Shang A.
The Old Kingdom, also known as the pyramid age, contains Dynasty Three through Dynasty Six (2700-2190). The Old Kingdoms contribution to ancient Egypt was that they built many cities and many pyramids; this is why it’s known as the pyramid age. Also they expanded in trade, as well as set up a strong government for the future. Pharaohs during this time had absolute power over everything and were looked upon as Gods on Earth. The Old Kingdom starts to decline with Pepy II’s 90 year reign.