COMPARING MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT Similarities Environment and Culture

COMPARING MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT

Similarities Environment and Culture Differences Mesopotamia Egypt Dependence on river Unpredictable Predictable valleys led to floods (Tigris floods (Nile) productive and Euphrates) Deserts, agriculture Open plains mountains, (vulnerable to seas, invasion) cataracts (protection) Religion played an important role and was shaped by geographic setting Pessimistic/ unfavorable view of gods, eternal life, and world Optimistic/ favorable view of world and gods Both modified surrounding environment through use of public works (irrigation, dikes) Negative impact on environment (deforestation, soil erosion, salinization) Mostly sustainable agriculture

Similarities Cities and States Advanced political structures set up; strong kings Creation of Empires Divine rule where kings saw themselves receiving authority from gods Differences Mesopotamia Egypt City-states in Cities were not as Sumer (more important (more urban) rural) Wall building Not as necessary for protection to have fortified against towns because of invasions geography Political unity was imposed by outside forces (Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians) Hammurabi’s Code – authority given by sun god Began as a unified territory and maintained this for 3, 000 years Egyptian pharaohs were believed to be a god in human form

Similarities Differences Mesopotamia Interaction and Exchange Both interacted with each other and with neighbors Long distance trade Large networks of commerce, culture, and power Egypt Contacts with • Indus River Valley, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan Contacts with Nubia and Punt Influenced Nubia (pyramids, writing, religion) Influenced other cultures Both influenced Minoans Influenced Hebrews (laws), Phoenicians (religion, alphabet) Received ideas from other cultures Received idea • of chariot from Hittites • Received idea of chariot from Hyksos

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY

Thesis (Intro) Paragraph • Need to address both political and economic similarities and differences. • Can express this in more than one sentence. • This is the bulk of your introduction.

Introduction • Give some background / characteristics of the civilizations • Thesis statement

Background • Once existing in modern day North Africa and the Middle East, the Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations were two of the earliest of the ancient world.

Thesis Pointers • Great starting/transition words - “While”/ “Despite”/ “Although”/ “However” • Thesis must incorporate all parts of the prompt question and a time period (if given) • A good thesis “lights the way” and provides a travel direction for the rest of the essay

Thesis No No’s • YOU CAN NEVER SAY… “THERE WERE MANY SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO CIVILIZATIONS” • Thesis must be more specific in stating how they were similar and different

Sample Thesis • Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations had many similarities and differences. • NOT ACCEPTED!!!!

Sample Thesis • Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations had many similarities and differences in their environment and political structures. • NOT ACCEPTED!!!!

Sample Thesis • Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations were similar in that they depended on their physical environments and developed advanced political structures that incorporated religious elements. However, these two civilizations emerged within diverse geographical settings which altered the roles of governmental structures in each area.

Body Paragraphs • • Paragraph 1: Paragraph 2: Paragraph 3: Paragraph 4: Environmental similarities Environmental differences Political similarities Political differences • (Order can be changed)

Topic Sentence • Provides an overview of what will be discussed in the paragraph

Sample Topic Sentence for Environmental Similarities • Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia both arose in a geographic setting that included a dependence on river valleys.

Sample Topic Sentence for Environmental Differences • Despite both civilizations sharing a dependence on river valleys, other geographic features in each area led to major differences between these groups.

Sample Topic Sentence for Political Similarities • Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia both developed advanced political structures that used religious themes.

Sample Topic Sentence for Political Differences • While both these civilizations developed impressive governments, their exact political arrangement varied.