Comparison and Contrast Between Early China, Mesopotamia, and Early African Societies
Early China, Mesopotamia, and Early African societies had a multitude of similarities as well as differences that led to their success. These three civilizations were alike in the sense that they all relied on rivers for their existence, and they were different in how they were ruled and the roles that different people play in societies. These civilizations also have other similarities and differences.
The people of Early China had to use the Yellow River to water their crops, however, it was unpredictable. The river would occasionally flood and ruin the crops or change course many times and not reach some people at all. Yellow River was eventually named “China’s Sorrow,” due to how unpredictable it is. The people of Early China were ruled by dynasties, which were families of rulers. Although it was a patriarchal society, women played a prominent role. For example, a consort of King Wu Ding named Fu Hao once served as a general on “several military campaigns and once led thirteen thousand troops in a successful operation against a neighboring state” (Bentley Ziegler 98). Those on the top of the social hierarchy were families and the rest of the rules were related to the main family “in charge”. Politically, Early China did not rule a highly centralized state. There were smaller towns with local rulers that recognized the authority of kings. The Shang and the Zhou dynasties were prominent examples of this type of ruling. This is similar to Mesopotamia, who ruled through organized states which were formal governmental institutions that wielded authority throughout their territories.
Mesopotamia had to rely on the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers for their survival. Unlike the Yellow River, these two rivers delivered large amounts of freshwater that citizens used to irrigate their crops. However, this is similar to the Nile in Egypt, which irrigated crops not only because of the river, but only because the region was surrounded by the Mediterranean basin. Due to
The people of Early China had to use the Yellow River to water their crops, however, it was unpredictable. The river would occasionally flood and ruin the crops or change course many times and not reach some people at all. Yellow River was eventually named “China’s Sorrow,” due to how unpredictable it is. The people of Early China were ruled by dynasties, which were families of rulers. Although it was a patriarchal society, women played a prominent role. For example, a consort of King Wu Ding named Fu Hao once served as a general on “several military campaigns and once led thirteen thousand troops in a successful operation against a neighboring state” (Bentley Ziegler 98). Those on the top of the social hierarchy were families and the rest of the rules were related to the main family “in charge”. Politically, Early China did not rule a highly centralized state. There were smaller towns with local rulers that recognized the authority of kings. The Shang and the Zhou dynasties were prominent examples of this type of ruling. This is similar to Mesopotamia, who ruled through organized states which were formal governmental institutions that wielded authority throughout their territories.
Mesopotamia had to rely on the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers for their survival. Unlike the Yellow River, these two rivers delivered large amounts of freshwater that citizens used to irrigate their crops. However, this is similar to the Nile in Egypt, which irrigated crops not only because of the river, but only because the region was surrounded by the Mediterranean basin. Due to