Essay Egypt and Mesopotamia: Similarities and Differences in Religion

Words: 932
Pages: 4
Open Document
Most societies that developed in ancient civilizations were centered around their belief systems. The Egyptians and the Mesopotamians were no different in this sense. Both civilizations were polytheistic and built elaborate temples to praise their gods. Additionally, the leaders in both regions were believed to be related to the gods because of the great power they held and the wealth under their control. However, the Mesopotamians had a pessimistic outlook on life because of the unpredictability of their environment. The Egyptians, on the other hand, had an optimistic outlook because the Nile River inundated their region regularly, which could be predicted by the stars. The similarities and differences in the religions of these two …show more content…
The Mesopotamians beliefs arose because their region had an unstable environment. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers often overflowed their banks in flash floods, ruining farmland and houses as well as killing people and livestock. The environment also varied when they had droughts that led to famines and then regular rainfall which gave them food surpluses. In addition, the major factor that ended this civilization was the environmental decline because of over farming which led to an ecological disaster that still plagues this region to this day. The Egyptians, on the other hand, believed that their gods were predictable because their environment was very unsurprising. They could forecast the inundation of the Nile River by looking at the stars. As a result, they believed the gods were telling them things through the stars. Therefore, their priests often looked to the heavens for answers, blending science into their religion and resulting in a certain amount of control over their lives. But because everything that happened was attributed to the gods, the outlook on life for both societies was closely linked to the region they lived and the problems that were encountered.

The gods were central to both Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies. The architecture of both regions reflected the religious symbols that were
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Egypt and Mesopotamia: Similarities and Differences in Religion

Essay about Comparative Analysis

Comparative Analysis Essay: Egypt and Mesopotamia The rise of civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia occurred about the same time and both civilizations grew along the mighty rivers. There were so many similarities but many differences as well. In each case, it was the river valley and geography that dictated outcomes affecting agricultural prosperity, religious formation, and agricultural prosperity, government structures. The first true civilizations in ancient times both formed near prominent…

Words 706 - Pages 3

Egypt vs. Mesopotamia Essay

Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia are two very important cultures that shaped how we view life and what we do today. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia have many similarities like their social class, they both had their own form of writing, and they both had very complex religions. Their social classes consisted of about 4 different types of people. Their writing was either Cuneiform or Hieroglyphics. They both had gods that they worshiped or hated. Both Egypt and Mesopotamia had differences but they are…

Words 497 - Pages 2

Similarities Between Mesopotamia And China

The early civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Cities on the Indus River, and the Dynasties in China possess many similarities and differences. All cities started on the same principles and similarities and laws. These all led up to creating the backbone for more modern civilizations and eventually countries as well as modern forms of government such as communism and democracy. Most civilizations were started near rivers, trade routes, or oceans and lakes. The reason for this was it made trade,…

Words 967 - Pages 4

Western Civilization Essay example

Question 1) The differences and similarities between Mesopotamia and Egyptian civilization. Differences Mesopotamia Egyptian Did not believe in a positive life after death Believed in a rich life after death Kingship granted by the Gods, did not see themselves as Gods Believed that their Pharaohs’ were both Gods and men Life center around religion Valued their ancestral ties to present life Polytheistic religion with many Gods Monotheism religion with only one God No good protection…

Words 521 - Pages 3

Compare And Contrast Nile Valley And Tigris Euphrate Valley

However, one topic that I was extremely interested in was civilizations, and specifically the three main ones we had talked about in class. Many different civilizations had arose back in time before the Golden Age and included many similarities, as well as many differences. The two early civilizations that I will compare and contrast are the Nile Valley and the Tigris Euphrates Valley. The Nile Valley was created at the opening of the Mediterranean Sea and went to the source in Sudan and Ethiopia.…

Words 463 - Pages 2

Compare And Contrast Ancient Egypt And Mesopotamia

different in others. Important similarities include the fact that both early Egypt and early Mesopotamia founded their own writing styles which still survive today. Also, although each cultures style and purpose was quite different, Egypt and Mesopotamia both built pyramids. As for differences, Mesopotamia was created as a walled city while Egypt was open, and while Egyptian culture centered on religion, Mesopotamia focused on centralized politics. While each of these differences is important, one of the…

Words 1096 - Pages 5

Silk Road Vs Indian Ocean Commerce Essay

among distant peoples is not altogether new and the roots of economic globalization lie deep in the past. Within both trade dynamics, their were numerous similarities and differences leading up to 1450 C.E, and the world during this time period was a more balanced, multi-centered world than of the modern era. Two largely important similarities between the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean commerce included trade growth because of environmental and cultural diversities in each region, and the same goods…

Words 942 - Pages 4

Assignment 1: Atlas Questions, Textbook Features, And Opinion

the Fertile Crescent. Rivers gave inhabitants a source of water, along with the ability to develop extensive irrigation systems for the cultivation of crops. Without any fertile soil, Europe had not achieved agriculture until 4,000 years after Mesopotamia. Europe had a colder, wetter, climate, which made their soils more difficult to cultivate crops. It was not until the use of the plow, that Europe had finally succeeded in agriculture as they were able to clear more lands for farming, growing certain…

Words 1210 - Pages 5

Similarities Between Christianity And Islam

civilization; Mesopotamia, is also the birthplace of the world’s two most popular religions, Christianity and Islam. Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with approximately 2.1 billion worshipers and Islam is the second largest with about 1.5 billion followers. Islam is a more recent religion than Christianity and was formed sometime between 610 and 622 A.D. Christianity was formed sometime amid 28-33 A.D. The two religions have profound similarities as well as numerous differences. Although…

Words 929 - Pages 4

Catalhoyuk Research Paper

principle. This code was originated during the reign of Emperor Hammurabi. It also had concepts that are similar to modern America, for example: anyone who had been done unlawfully had the right to request compensation for their troubles. Another similarity to today was that women were represented by the code of law. While women of the time were still inferior to males they were not seen as property to their husbands. Women had rights to own property and conduct other forms of business that even in…

Words 1685 - Pages 7