The ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians shared many traits, but they also differed, despite having emerged around the same years. The Egyptians, a religiously optimistic people, established a bureaucratic government that ultimately reflected their social system. In Mesopotamia, where life was not viewed with optimism, the more diverse social system led to a decentralized political system. However, the evidence shows that both societies relied on an afterlife, established a unique writing structure, and excelled significantly in the arts and sciences.
Mesopotamia sadly did not have a seasonal flood from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which would force them to create an organized agricultural system. This would explain his negative view of the afterlife and the general mood of the gods. Egypt, however, was situated along the fertile soils of the Nile River Valley, which provided a familiar flood. This allowed the Egyptians to see the universe as orderly and beneficial. So sacred this life after death that they believed in preserving the body when dying for the journey to the afterlife through the process of mummification. The Mesopotamians, fearing to disappoint the gods, believed that their purpose was to serve the gods, and therefore religion played a more important role in government. The priests, for example, were much more prominent than in Egypt. Regardless of the situation, both civilizations thrived on agriculture.
Both communities had a social system divided into three groups. King Hammurabi’s law declared these three groups: the free landowners, which included royalty, priests, and officials; dependent farmers and artisans; and the slave class, who were generally prisoners of war. Temple leaders were considered royalty and controlled large estates together with the Lugal (king). While male dominance existed, women had rights in Mesopotamia. They could own land and businesses and trade, but child rearing was preferred. Women eventually lost their social position due to the expansion of agriculture and the rise of the middle class. The social class in Egypt was less pronounced: composed of the king and his officials; lower-level officials, priests, farmers, and professionals; and the peasants in the background. The peasant class performed much of the agricultural work, as slavery was limited. Obesity, as in many ancient civilizations, was a sign of wealth and status. The subordination of women to men is also evident in Egypt. Women still had a little more rights. This included owning property, inheritance, and the ability to inherit the property to anyone.
A king of some sort eventually ruled both Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Egyptians were ruled by a bureaucracy, where the pharaoh was the supreme ruler, followed by his appointed officials. Officials were chosen on merit, rather than inheritance as in Mesopotamia. The pharaoh was seen as a god on earth, who was given the responsibility of ensuring well-being and prosperity. The palace controlled long-distance trade and collected taxes for construction and the army. The priests, on the other hand, did not play an important role in politics as in Mesopotamia. The two centers of power in Mesopotamia were the temple and the king’s palace. The temple and the palace used to be the center and were surrounded by agricultural land, known as the city state. These city-states developed independently and traded with each other. The theocratic king was named Lugal and he was responsible for property rights, defense, and the law. Slightly different from Egypt, the Lugal was only the representative or mediator of the gods.
Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia based their economies on agriculture. This tedious work called for more productive ways of working, hopefully through technological advancements. Both societies used the irrigation process through canals and dikes. Stone tools were the most used along with some bronzes. Egypt skillfully used simple machines like levers and pulleys to build the magnificent monuments. The Mesopotamians made pottery easier with the creation of the potter’s wheel. The most considerable innovation was the distinctive writing structures of the two civilizations. Mesopotamians preferred the cuneiform method, creating wedge-shaped symbols with reeds. Fortunately for the discovery of the Rosetta stone, we can interpret the multitude of hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians.
Despite being isolated, both civilizations managed to abide by the basic structure of human nature and apply the indicators of a civilization. Hence arose the specific qualities that make up the Mesopotamian and Ancient Egyptian classes.