Comparing Egypt and Sumer LocationGeography Sumer between Tigris

Comparing Egypt and Sumer

Location/Geography Sumer � between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers � plain area called Mesopotamia � unpredictable floods � limited natural resources Ancient Egypt � along great Nile River � called “Gift of the Nile” � cataracts = rapids � delta: broad, marshy triangular area with deposits of soil

Religion � polytheistic: many gods, about 3, 000 � gods were all powerful and immortal, humans were servants � souls of dead went to “land of no return” � kings were gods � pharaohs: god-kings � polytheistic: about 2, 000 � Ra = sun � Iris = ideal mother/wife � Orisis = chose afterlife

Writing � Epic of Gilgamesh � epic myth about unsuccessful quest for immortality � crude pictographs � hieroglyphics (sacred carvings) � wrote on dried papyrus

Government/Law � city-states: each city and the surrounding land it controlled � ziggurats at the center, where priests appealed to gods for well-being � warriors had control of armies � dynasties: when rules were from one family � divided into Upper and Lower Egypt � Menes united in 3000 B. C. E. � theocracy: ruler is a divine figure � pharaohs promoted truth and justices

Science/Technology � invented wheel, sail, � first to use bronze � first system of and plow writing: cuneiform � arches, number system base 60, geometry � creation of pyramids from limestone/granite � Mummification (to preserve the dead) � written numbers � medicine and surgery

Social Classes � priests/kings were highest, then merchants, workers, slaves lowest � women had some rights, not education � royal families were highest, then government officials, priest and commanders � below them were the merchants/artisans, and the unskilled laborers � women equal to men

Categorization Strategies � When comparing and contrasting, consider using a few of these categories to help organize your essay and provide a solid comparison. � Political � Economic � Social � Cultural � Intellectual � Religious � Geographic

Essay Scoring Rubric �Topic sentence – introduces the category or point; could be directly from introduction paragraph �Clincher sentence – sums up what you just said and is the main point to take away from that paragraph

Essay Scoring Rubric �Each item listed is 1 point for a total of 18 points. � 17 more points will come from my being able to read your essay, emailing me a copy if it is typed, signing the honor code somewhere on your essay, etc. �Essays will typically be worth 55 points, this first one will only be 35 points.