Compare And Contrast Fertile Crescent And Mesopotamia
Early civilizations often had many similarities in their politics, economies, and social norms. The civilizations of Mesopotamia, or the Fertile Crescent (3000 BCE), and the Nile River Valley (3000 BCE) are prime examples of this, but with different geography, leaders, and resources many differences divided the two nations. Both the Nile River Valley and the Fertile Crescent had authoritarian governments and mainly agricultural economies, but the Nile River Valley was much more unified, while Mesopotamia’s city-states were constantly battling. Even though both nations were dynasties, they found their leaders in different ways. Even though both nations were dynasties, they found their leaders in different ways. Mesopotamia found leaders through
their great warriors, while the Nile River Valley passed down its power through a royal family. Priests of the states also held great positions of power due to the importance of religion in the two societies. Both civilizations relied heavily on their nearby rivers for trade and sources of irrigation for their mainly agricultural economies. Mesopotamia used the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to allow for both local and long distance trading. Similarly, the Nile River Valley shipped its products up and down the Nile. Unfortunately, in both areas the rivers were often unpredictable and very susceptible to flooding. Irrigation systems were created to help sustain the areas in times of heavy flooding. The two nations had differing social hierarchies and different levels of gender inequality. Mesopotamia had 3-tiers of social classes, which did not include slaves. Ranking from highest to lowest was royalty and priests, wealthy merchants, and ordinary workers. In their society women had rights such as buying property and the ability to divorce, however they were still treated as property. Meanwhile, in the Nile River Valley, there were four classes in the social hierarchy. First the royalty and priests, then upper, middle, and low classes, respectively. Women were treated with more respect in Egypt. They were allowed to take part in both financial and legal situations, and could work outside of the house.
their great warriors, while the Nile River Valley passed down its power through a royal family. Priests of the states also held great positions of power due to the importance of religion in the two societies. Both civilizations relied heavily on their nearby rivers for trade and sources of irrigation for their mainly agricultural economies. Mesopotamia used the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to allow for both local and long distance trading. Similarly, the Nile River Valley shipped its products up and down the Nile. Unfortunately, in both areas the rivers were often unpredictable and very susceptible to flooding. Irrigation systems were created to help sustain the areas in times of heavy flooding. The two nations had differing social hierarchies and different levels of gender inequality. Mesopotamia had 3-tiers of social classes, which did not include slaves. Ranking from highest to lowest was royalty and priests, wealthy merchants, and ordinary workers. In their society women had rights such as buying property and the ability to divorce, however they were still treated as property. Meanwhile, in the Nile River Valley, there were four classes in the social hierarchy. First the royalty and priests, then upper, middle, and low classes, respectively. Women were treated with more respect in Egypt. They were allowed to take part in both financial and legal situations, and could work outside of the house.