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Running Head: ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN AND EGYPTIAN CULTURES
Ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian Cultures
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Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am glad to be standing in front of you this afternoon.
Today, I am going to talk about ancient cultures, more specifically, the ancient Egyptian culture
and the ancient Mesopotamian culture.
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The ancient Egyptian culture began with the rise of technology in c. 5500 BCE and with
the death of the last Ptolemaic Egyptian ruler, Cleopatra VII, in 30 BCE. The culture is
best known for its great monuments which represent celebrations of the rulers’ triumphs
and honors to the gods of the land. Some have misunderstood the culture as being
obsessed with death while others regard it as a life affirming culture.
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Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning “between two rivers”. The two rivers referred to
river Tigris and Euphrates while the land was known by the Arabs as Al-Jazirah or the
Island. It was later remained as the Fertile Crescent by an Egyptologist J.H. breasted.
This place is where civilization in Mesopotamian began. Mesopotamia is recognized as
the cradle of civilization because it lead to two main developments; the rise of a city and
the invention of writing. This place also had a collection of various cultures unlike other
areas.
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One major similarity between these two ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia is in
their basic social stratification. Both had a noble class of people who owned most of the
land, held top positions in the society while peasants and slaves occupied bottom slots.
Both Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures were deeply rooted in religions. Both cultures
had an array of gods and goddesses. The Egyptians had supreme gods such as the Amon
and the god Ra and the Osiris. Each male god had a female goddess companion. The
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Mesopotamian culture had similar gods and goddesses. They had gods and wars
goddesses, female and male divinities and Ishtar who represented a major divinity in their
religion. In both cultures, these gods and goddesses would take various forms including
animals, human or both.
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Both cultural had significant differences in their art and architectural designs.
Architectural structures in Mesopotamia grew out of soil unlike in Egypt where their land
was rich of stones that could be quarried and used in construction. Mesopotamians
constructed simple homes from bundles of reeds tied together while more complex ones
where constructed with sun-dried clay bricks. Their famous ziggurats, temples and cities
were constructed using clay bricks which had been oven baked and painted.
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Both cultures were similar because they developed along rivers which helped them to
cope in the harsh desert climate, had strong beliefs in their leaders, had elaborate
religious beliefs and had well written languages and impressive architectural designs.
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The differences between these two cultures are as a result of differences in geography,
differences in their prior beliefs and different degree of exposure to external invasion and
influences.
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These two cultures have influences the world in different ways. The ancient Egyptians
culture has led to advancement in architectural designs. There is increased use of steel,
power glue and concrete. The 24 hour system, 12 months year and four week month
calculated by astronomers continue to be used in several parts of the world. Circumcision
which was practiced in ancient Egypt as a hygienic process is practices various parts of
the world. Irrigation works similar to those used in ancient Mesopotamia are used in
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agricultural practices. Other practices such as use of geometry are widely used across the
globe.
Summary
Differences between Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt
Geography
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Located between rivers
Located along river Nile
Tigris and Euphrates
Architectural designs
Used soil and reeds
Made use of stones
Comparison between Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt
Agriculture
Social hierarchy
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Artificial irrigation along
Artificial irrigation along
rivers Tigris and Euphrates
river Nile
Noble class
Noble class
Patriarchal
Patriarchal
slaves
slaves
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN AND EGYPTIAN CULTURES
specialization
Religion
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Pottery, leather making,
Pottery, leather making,
brick-making, stone cutting,
brick-making, stone cutting,
textile, wood work
textile, wood work
gods and goddesses
Gods and goddesses
including Ishtar
including the Amon and the
god Ra and the Osiris.