Compare and Contrast: Mesopotamia and Egypt
Kyle Fuller
Arakawa
World Civilization 110-29
21 September 2006
Compare and Contrast: Mesopotamia and Egypt
In the time of the agricultural age, two civilizations arose out of the plenteous food and raging waters. These two early civilizations were Mesopotamia and Egypt. Although many similarities can be drawn between the two, they each proved to be very different from each other in social, political, and religious systems as well as their stability and defeat.
One factor they did have in common was the cause of each civilization existence, Irrigated agriculture. Irrigated agriculture was the bridge between a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and an agricultural lifestyle. These two early civilizations had an abundant supply of the number one resource needed for irrigated agriculture, water. "In ancient Mesopotamia, the dual drainage of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers made the first urban civilization possible In Egypt, the Nile was the life-giving source of everything the people needed and cherished (Adler Pouwels 2006:11). This plentiful supply of water in conjunction with fertile soil in both civilizations allowed them to produce enough food to support large communities. "Rivers also offered a sure and generally easy form of transport and communication, allowing intervillage trade and encouraging central authorities to extend their powers over a much greater area" (Adler Pouwels 2006:11). Given that water was the key to life, most communities were on or near the river. Having a central resource created community relationships and outward expansion ultimately ending in the formation of these two great civilizations. While each civilizations creation was fueled by the same factors, most of life for the two after was very different.
The political views of the two kingdoms were opposites. "The Egyptians views the world as the Egyptian's and the rest" of the inferiors (Adler Pouwels 2006:36). They truly believed that they were the best in the world, while the
Arakawa
World Civilization 110-29
21 September 2006
Compare and Contrast: Mesopotamia and Egypt
In the time of the agricultural age, two civilizations arose out of the plenteous food and raging waters. These two early civilizations were Mesopotamia and Egypt. Although many similarities can be drawn between the two, they each proved to be very different from each other in social, political, and religious systems as well as their stability and defeat.
One factor they did have in common was the cause of each civilization existence, Irrigated agriculture. Irrigated agriculture was the bridge between a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and an agricultural lifestyle. These two early civilizations had an abundant supply of the number one resource needed for irrigated agriculture, water. "In ancient Mesopotamia, the dual drainage of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers made the first urban civilization possible In Egypt, the Nile was the life-giving source of everything the people needed and cherished (Adler Pouwels 2006:11). This plentiful supply of water in conjunction with fertile soil in both civilizations allowed them to produce enough food to support large communities. "Rivers also offered a sure and generally easy form of transport and communication, allowing intervillage trade and encouraging central authorities to extend their powers over a much greater area" (Adler Pouwels 2006:11). Given that water was the key to life, most communities were on or near the river. Having a central resource created community relationships and outward expansion ultimately ending in the formation of these two great civilizations. While each civilizations creation was fueled by the same factors, most of life for the two after was very different.
The political views of the two kingdoms were opposites. "The Egyptians views the world as the Egyptian's and the rest" of the inferiors (Adler Pouwels 2006:36). They truly believed that they were the best in the world, while the