Ancient Near East

The transition from a Paleolithic society into settled civilizations was one of the greatest changes in human development. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia are two of the greatest ancient civilizations that went through this change. While both governing bodies had strict laws and ties to religion, the main difference was the government system of both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. This difference actually made a huge impact in terms of the lasting longevity of both civilizations as Egypt was able…

Ancient Egypt was a place of magnificent art, and inventions, with huge pyramids, and a variety of different gods. It may seem like you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between each ancient civilization, but they contrast in many ways. Ancient Egypt was responsible for many technological advances, and some we still use today. Ancient Egyptians way of life fascinates all that take the time to learn about it. Egyptians had strong religious beliefs, as they worshipped over 2,000…

than the ones seen in present day. Ancient Egypt is one of the first civilizations that arose about five thousand years ago. Ancient Egypt held polytheistic beliefs and their rituals were an integral part of society. Not too far away was the Sumerian civilization, which rose in Southern Mesopotamia. The Sumerians practiced a polytheistic religion, with deities that had human like qualities representing cosmic and terrestrial forces in their world. Being near each other could cause similarities…

religion was less likely to be influenced by the outside world. Mesopotamia is at the junction of many different people and cultures. Changes in the Mesopotamian religious belief system were much more likely, and more frequent, than in Egypt. In ancient Mesopotamia, where the king exerted “real” political control while at the same time satisfying important ritual functions. In Tablet IV of the Eluma Elish poem, it reads “From this day onwards your command shall not be altered. Yours is the…

Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia were two of the earliest civilizations that emerged in the world. Even though the two river valley civilizations arose around similar time periods within close proximity to each other, the geography, government, and religion had major similarities and differences from 2,000 B.C. to 100 B.C. The geography between Egypt and Mesopotamia had many similarities and differences. The main reason that these civilizations thrived in their location was because they were…

Thebes was a city-state in ancient Greece. Thebes was located in central Greece, a little to the north of Athens, and in between Delphi. Thebes was a farming city, unlike Athens and Corinth who were seaports. Thebes is strategically located on a low plateau commanding the surrounding plains of Boeotia. Thebes is the largest city-state located in Boeotia, a region in Greece. Unlike many parts of Greece where the soil was light and thin, Thebes has rich, fertile soil that is well irrigated.…

As I read both readings I was intrigued as they both focused on ancient cities and states and their developments. In the article Order, Legitimacy, and Wealth in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, by John Baines and Norman Yoffee they compare the differences in civilizations between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Later on I will explain what Baines and Yoffee mean by the terms they used to help us understand how ancient states developed and endured. Bruce G. Trigger explains the many distinctions between…

Mesopotamia and egypt are different but are mostly two side of the same coin.They both were intelligent nations that were advanced for the their time and great wonders , however there were some difference if you looked at the details , but in the end they were more or less cut from the same cloth. First ruled by kings as independent city states, later, Mesopotamia would be ruled as empires. Strong kings or pharaohs and bureaucratic governments continued a period of continuity and Mesopotamia…

The Babylon Empire, one of the most prosperous and long lasting empires of Ancient Mesopotamia, a fertile region due to its location in correspondence to important rivers, such as the Nile and Tigris River, in what is now modern Iraq. For any good civilization to be great, like the ancient Babylon empire, it will need a good law code. A law code is a set of rules all citizens of a society must follow. A law code is necessary because it makes sure that criminals will always receive their…

Justifying Rulership: a comparison of the Olmec and Ubaid cultures There are many similarities in the rise of complex society in both Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica. From monumental structure building to well integrated trade, cultures such as the Olmec of Mesoamerica 1200 BC - 400 AD and the Ubaid of Mesopotamia 4500 BC-3000 BC, have many parallel elements relating to their success as complex societies and what one may refer to as states, despite thousands of years between the two. Comparatively…