Mesopotamia And Egypt Similarities

In the winds of change, civilizations like Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia have left their imprint on the world today in various ways. The rise of civilizations in Egypt and Mesopotamia occurred about the same time in 5000-6000 B.C and it was through their scientific discoveries and cultural practices that we have derived important religions and educational breakthroughs. Although they both were prosperous and strived towards similar goals they went about their stratification in different ways. One of the most important factors as to why their civilizations were vastly different is due to geography.
Ancient Egypt grew up along the Nile while the Tigris and Euphrates River’s bordered Mesopotamia. These water sources allowed for the civilizations
to have fertile soil and it made agriculture prevalent in their economies and daily lives. For the Egyptian civilization not only did the Nile provide food, but it also provided stability. The civilians felt comfortable with the Nile’s predictability and even saw the flood as an act of their god Hapi. Mesopotamia, on the other hand, had many unpredictable floods that caused famine and a negative attitude among the Mesopotamians. They felt that the days of human beings are numbered. Their location provided a lot of inconveniences, but it also provided a lot of fertile soil and a transportation system. It was also because of their geography that the two civilizations views on religion were different.
Religion in both Mesopotamia and Egypt commenced with polytheism. Unlike Mesopotamian religion, the Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife. It was because of this belief that the Egyptians held different religious practices than the Mesopotamians. The art of mummification was fortified to preserve the bodies of the dead so they could come back reincarnated. This notion led to the creation of one of the greatest achievements of the Egyptians, the pyramids. According to the Research Archives of the Oriental Institute, Chicago, “the scenes in the tombs in which there were fertile fields and harmony at home was thought to ensure an ideal existence in the next world.” Disregarding the belief of an afterlife, Mesopotamians held religious practices in the form of divination. The curiosity of people wanting to decipher events and discover the purpose of the gods led to this practice. These religious beliefs of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians were the dominating influence in the development of their culture.
Culture in Ancient Egypt demonstrated a measure of skill unlike any other civilization at the time.
Papyrus (paper) was only one of the technological advances of the Ancient Egyptian culture. The Egyptians were also responsible for developing hieroglyphics. According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, “daily life for the Egyptians was different, yet similar to other cultures. Like the people of Mesopotamia, they lived in homes, raised families, and enjoyed their leisure time. However, the Egyptians believed that the land was intimately tied to their personal salvation and they had a deep fear of dying beyond the borders of Egypt.” For this reason they did not travel afar much. As for Mesopotamian culture, referring to chapter two of John Heise's 'Akkadian language', “two cultural groups form the principal elements in the population of Mesopotamia, these are the Sumerians and the Akkadians.” They lived peacefully together and in all periods seem to be free of strong racial ideologies or ethnic stereotypes. In their daily lives, children were raised based on their gender roles: boys would learn working skills and girls would learn how to be mothers and wives. All in all their cultures held true to their beliefs and it is just one of the aspects that made these civilizations
great.
When these civilizations were at their prime they were some of the most powerful in trading, agriculture, and economics. Society today would not be the same if it were not for the innovations and aspirations of these civilizations, which have inspired the imaginations of many. Everywhere there is evidence of ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian influence. From the wheel to paper, and the pyramids, Egyptians and Mesopotamians have truly left their mark on society as any great civilization would. They gave the world some of its most enduring cultural aspects and for that reason, their legacy continues.