Similarities
Geography
1. Both had rivers that flooded depositing silt to make the soil fertile.
2. Developed along rivers
History
1. Both has social classes
2. Started out as farming communities
Government
1. Government ruled based on social classes
2. Both used slaves for laborers
Religion
1. Both societies believed in and worshiped many Gods and Goddesses (polytheism)
2. Both had temples where they worshipped
Achievements
1. Both developed their own form of writing with symbols
2. Both built large structures to honor leaders and Gods such as Ziggurats, Pyramids and Sphinx.
3. Both used irrigation for farming
Differences
Mesopotamia
Geography;
Tigris and Euphrates flooded unpredictably often causing damage
Mesopotamia faced invasions due to its location in wide open spaces
Tigris and Euphrates flowed North to South
History:
Wrote everything on clay tablets
Went through many rulers and different governments as they were conquered by different people
Government:
City – states ruled by Kings
Were started as a form of democracy
Slaves and Women did not have many rights
Laws based on Hammurabi’s code
Religion:
Believed gods descended to earth using Ziggurats as stairways
Religious, social and economic events took place in temple sites
Washed statues of gods before and after every meal was offered
Egypt
Geography;
Nile flooded predictably every summer so the Egyptians knew when to plant crops
Nile flowed south to north
Hot sands of Deserts protected Egypt from invasions
History:
Very stable form of government with three long time periods (old, middle and new kingdoms)
Wrote everything on papyrus paper
Developed the 365 day year to time the Nile; it flooded every summer
Government:
Ruled by Pharaohs who had ultimate authority
Slaves and Women had more rights, could own land and start and own businesses
If ruler was too young they used regents to rule until ruler was old enough...