A Comparison of Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Egypt

This short essay paper will concentrate on the similarities and differences between Mesopotamia and Egypt’s ancient civilizations. I will compare the geography of the two early civilizations with their effects. Geography played a big role in forming Egypt and Mesopotamia civilizations. Due to geography, Mesopotamia and Egypt had different weather, environment, flooding seasons, and farming methods. But they also had similarities.

Approximately 5,000 years ago Life in these areas as hunter-gatherers was extremely difficult before Agriculture evolved. The hot, dry climate of these two ancient civilizations could not support life. Mesopotamia lies on the banks of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in the Middle East. This is known as “The land between the rivers”. The two rivers flow into the Gulf of Persia. These two rivers are crucial to the two great civilizations They need it for survival. Egypt is situated with the Nile River running through it in North / East Africa. A significant difference between these early civilizations and the explanation for why they were both able to be established is that the people of Mesopotamia and Egypt were both born in the valleys of the river. River valleys are areas of flat land that have a river running through it. In both cultures, After the rain, these vital rivers flooded floods then would be fertile land along the river valley that the Egyptians used to plant and cultivate such things as fruit and vegetables. They both relied on the floods that deposited nutrient-rich soil for their crops. But sometimes they also brought devastation and death. A difference between these early civilizations is that Mesopotamia’s Tigris and Euphrates rivers were unpredictable in their floods, the northern area of upper Mesopotamia was a nurturing land due to their wet season, which would help water the soil. Southern Mesopotamia or lower Mesopotamia was a wetland with numerous flat barren plains. Also, the southern region was much hotter and drier. Meanwhile, the floods of the Nile in Egypt are expected annually, and the Nile River floods between June and October.

Such important rivers flooded periodically, and the receding water would leave nutrient-filled silt behind, leaving the soil highly fertile for planting. However, in Mesopotamia, this is not what happened. Growing crops were more difficult for Mesopotamians, because across Mesopotamia, there were long periods without rainfall, causing droughts that made the land dry and difficult to farm. It was very difficult for them because they never knew when the rain would come and flood the rivers therefore, they had few natural resources due to the unpredictable rain and floods. In addition to droughts and devastating floods, Mesopotamia had open plains, no natural barriers, which meant they had nothing protecting them from enemy neighbors. They were subject to constant invasion. Whereas Egypt had natural barriers that protected them from anyone trying to get in.

In summary, between the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, there are many geographical similarities that shaped life for these early people. Primarily, the river resources of these warm, dry lands helped sustain life by providing fertile soil for farming systems. While flooding was familiar to both, it presented itself differently in how it affected the way each of them survived and made up their civilization.