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 to last longer. These civilizations were grounded by the heavy laws that were implemented by the governing bodies in power. In Mesopotamia, the king of Babylon created the Code of Hammurabi. These rules were not subjective and touched on every aspect
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Similarly, ancient Egyptians followed this as well. They based their codes on the concept of Ma’at and basic views on how to treat each other. Citizens were punished for their crimes but unlike mesopotamia, everyone except slaves were viewed equal under the law. When the society found a citizen guilt of a crime, that person's family was actually punished alongside them. For example, if a parent was found guilty of a crime and sentenced to exile, their children would be exiled along with them. These laws showcase just how important it was for the civilization to remain civil and by having such extreme punishments, and making their family pay as well, the citizens of Egypt would be less inclined to stray from the social norm. It is important to note that even with these similar laws and consequences, mesopotamia was not able to last as long as ancient egypt. The extremity of both civilizations actually differ a bit as egypt does go the extra mile in punishing family members too and this may be a contributing factor into why they were able to last longer. By creating those deep familial ties and making it so that your actions did not just affect you individually, the people of Egypt would be even less likely to commit any serious crimes because they had consequences for everyone around
Similarly, ancient Egyptians followed this as well. They based their codes on the concept of Ma’at and basic views on how to treat each other. Citizens were punished for their crimes but unlike mesopotamia, everyone except slaves were viewed equal under the law. When the society found a citizen guilt of a crime, that person's family was actually punished alongside them. For example, if a parent was found guilty of a crime and sentenced to exile, their children would be exiled along with them. These laws showcase just how important it was for the civilization to remain civil and by having such extreme punishments, and making their family pay as well, the citizens of Egypt would be less inclined to stray from the social norm. It is important to note that even with these similar laws and consequences, mesopotamia was not able to last as long as ancient egypt. The extremity of both civilizations actually differ a bit as egypt does go the extra mile in punishing family members too and this may be a contributing factor into why they were able to last longer. By creating those deep familial ties and making it so that your actions did not just affect you individually, the people of Egypt would be even less likely to commit any serious crimes because they had consequences for everyone around