Comparative Similarities Between Egypt And Shang Civilizations

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Egypt and Shang Comparative Essay Egypt and Shang China, both ancient civilizations, designed complex societies with different cultural, political, and economic characteristics. One similarity between these civilizations is that both were ruled by powerful kings who maintained order and control. One difference between them is that the Egyptians built their tombs in pyramids, and the Shang buried their dead in the ground. Historical evidence indicates that, despite their many similarities, each of these civilizations possessed their own unique societies. Egyptian and Shang civilizations had many similarities. Most notable was their politics. Both had powerful kings, though the Egyptian kings were known as Pharaohs. The leaders of both civilizations were political as well as religious leaders. Pharaohs were viewed as gods of Earth and had a great deal of religious influence over the Egyptian people. In a similar way, the emperors of…show more content…
One difference is that the Egyptians used mummification in their burial process to preserve the body, while the Shang did not. Egypt built great pyramids as the final resting place for their dead, but Shang did not. In Egyptian culture, women were considered equal to men; however in Shang culture, men were predominant, and women had to listen to their husbands. The religions of these two civilizations were the most distinct. The Shang believed in Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, while the Egyptian religion was centered on the ruler and the eternity of the soul. The two civilizations possessed political differences, too. For instance, Shang military officials had more power than the governors did in Egypt. Shang was also a little more organized. However, Shang had human sacrifices, usually prisoners of war, as a way of honoring the gods. The culture and politics were fairly different in many ways, which gave each civilization its own
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