Civilization can be defined as a complex structure in which large numbers of people share several common elements such as social structure, religion, and culture. These civilizations live together in settlements, towns, and cities. The Mesopotamian society and Ancient Egypt were both similar, yet distinct civilizations. Their society, religion, and culture had many disparities, but both had many similar underlying themes.
The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt were both facilitated by rivers that ran in their midst. The Mesopotamia was located along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates River and Egypt located in Africa with the Nile River running through it. They both relied heavily on the rivers for the survival of their civilization. …show more content…
The early Mesopotamia people of Uruk, an ancient city of Sumer, became the first Sumerian city-state; thereafter each Sumerian city then became center of a small city-state. Each city-state had its own independent ruler that ruled by divine sanctions and each city-state including the ruler served a particular god. The high priestesses held the same hierarchy position as the Mesopotamian kings, but in some cases like the Uruk Period, they were both the high priest and ruler; the high priestesses played a vital role in the societal economics. The differences of serving different gods, having different governments and different economic dimensions amongst each city-state created intense competition that frequently escalated into warfare. Intensification of intercity warfare between states the leader’s position shifted into a new type of military leadership that evolved into a form of kingship. This shift was a phase referred to as Early Dynastic Period and war leaders were known as lugal. Notwithstanding this periods many societal changes including in their religious concepts, the rulers were still obliged to honor the gods in traditional practices with the belief that if they did not they would bring disaster to themselves and their people. In later Mesopotamia times city-states were dissolved and …show more content…
The Pharaoh was considered to be the representative of the gods on earth. The Nile played a role in government allowing rulers to project their power quickly and effectively up and down its route. Once Upper and Lower Egypt unified the Egyptian government took shape and persisted for the next 3,000 years. Unlike the many changes of Mesopotamia government over time, Egypt remained strong in their belief of centralized kingship, withstanding many transitions of power passed from pharaoh to pharaoh. Another difference between the two civilizations is that pharaohs upheld their positions to sacred nature and were more than just rulers; they were a personification of the land, the people, and their gods. They did however in the era of The Old Kingdom appoint local governors to impose taxation and to draft labor. The pharaoh closely monitored and controlled all aspects of the society including the economy. At the end of the of The Old Kingdom period the Egyptian’s government advanced causing a redistribution of power and change in centralized authority. The effects were wealth, education, opportunities in art, and partaking in rituals for the dead became available to the society as a
The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt were both facilitated by rivers that ran in their midst. The Mesopotamia was located along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates River and Egypt located in Africa with the Nile River running through it. They both relied heavily on the rivers for the survival of their civilization. …show more content…
The early Mesopotamia people of Uruk, an ancient city of Sumer, became the first Sumerian city-state; thereafter each Sumerian city then became center of a small city-state. Each city-state had its own independent ruler that ruled by divine sanctions and each city-state including the ruler served a particular god. The high priestesses held the same hierarchy position as the Mesopotamian kings, but in some cases like the Uruk Period, they were both the high priest and ruler; the high priestesses played a vital role in the societal economics. The differences of serving different gods, having different governments and different economic dimensions amongst each city-state created intense competition that frequently escalated into warfare. Intensification of intercity warfare between states the leader’s position shifted into a new type of military leadership that evolved into a form of kingship. This shift was a phase referred to as Early Dynastic Period and war leaders were known as lugal. Notwithstanding this periods many societal changes including in their religious concepts, the rulers were still obliged to honor the gods in traditional practices with the belief that if they did not they would bring disaster to themselves and their people. In later Mesopotamia times city-states were dissolved and …show more content…
The Pharaoh was considered to be the representative of the gods on earth. The Nile played a role in government allowing rulers to project their power quickly and effectively up and down its route. Once Upper and Lower Egypt unified the Egyptian government took shape and persisted for the next 3,000 years. Unlike the many changes of Mesopotamia government over time, Egypt remained strong in their belief of centralized kingship, withstanding many transitions of power passed from pharaoh to pharaoh. Another difference between the two civilizations is that pharaohs upheld their positions to sacred nature and were more than just rulers; they were a personification of the land, the people, and their gods. They did however in the era of The Old Kingdom appoint local governors to impose taxation and to draft labor. The pharaoh closely monitored and controlled all aspects of the society including the economy. At the end of the of The Old Kingdom period the Egyptian’s government advanced causing a redistribution of power and change in centralized authority. The effects were wealth, education, opportunities in art, and partaking in rituals for the dead became available to the society as a