This document compares and contrasts the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Both civilizations relied heavily on major rivers for survival - Mesopotamia along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and Egypt along the Nile river. Mesopotamia introduced many innovations like writing, the wheel, and advanced irrigation, while Egypt arose later and built upon Mesopotamian advances through a more centralized divine rule under pharaohs. The biggest difference was that Egypt was able to maintain political stability and independence for over 3,000 years, while Mesopotamia suffered frequent invasions and regime changes.

1. Mesopotamia
* Located in the
middle east; along
the banks of the
Tigris and
Euphrates rivers
Location/Geography
Egypt
*Located in
North/East Africa
with the Nile River
running through it
These two rivers were essential
to the survival of these two great
civilizations

2. Mesopotamia
*Introduced writing as
formal law codes, city
planning/architecture/ins
titutions.
*Created the wheel
around 4000 B.C.E
*Innovations in irrigation,
farming, pottery, bronze,
and copper.
All of these innovations over
time lead Mesopotamia into a
More complex society

3. Mesopotamia Cont.
* By 3500 B.C.E the
Sumerians came in
and started to make
innovations and
discoveries.
Cuneiform (Writing)
Mathematics
Calender

4. Mesopotamia Cont.
*Political
Infrastructure was
implemented by a
King
● *First means of
money system
instead of
bartering using
silver as a means
of exchange for
goods and
services.

5. Mesopotamia Cont.
Mesopotamia
suffered from
invasions due to
its geographic
location, beliefs,
and political
structure.

6. Egypt
*Arose about
1000 years
after
Mesopotamia
due to the
influence of
trade and
technological
advances.
The success of
Egypt was built
primarily on the
Nile River.
Predictable
flooding and
irrigation
methods
provided for
dense
populations.

7. Egypt Cont.
A more
government
enforced structure
was implemented
in Egypt with a
Pharaoh who had
divine rule and
was seen as a
god. This would
lead to pyramids,
tombs, and god
like statues
covering Egypt.

8. Egypt Cont.
This divine rule was
seen to be
necessary due to
the complexity of
their agriculture
system along the
Nile.
Results: Slave
Labor

9. Time-line of Egypt
KINGDOMS DATES SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Archaic 4,950 – 4,636 Unification of all Egypt
Old Kingdom 4,636 – 4,031 Construction of Pyramids
First Intermediate 4,031 – 3,941 Political Chaos
Middle Kingdom 3,941 – 3,736 Recovery and political
Stability
Second Kingdom 3,736 – 3,517 Hyksos “Invasion
New Kingdom 3,517 – 3,055 Creation of Egyption Empire
(reigned over 3000 years)

10. Similarities/Differences
● *Both relied heavily on the Rivers for survival.
● *Both were religious but Egypt displayed more
through their art.
● *Both had slaves, Egypt was much harsher, in
Mesopotamia you could buy your freedom back.
● *Both shared a social stratification system with
land owners at the top and peasants at the
bottom.

11. Similarities / Differences
Cont.
● Urban centers became the center piece for both
civilizations.
● Mesopotamia brought innovations to Egypt and
Egypt improved on those.
● Both had a passion for art, astronomy, mathematics,
and religions.
● Both had writing systems, for law, commerce, and
communication.

12. Biggest Difference
● Egypt reigned for over 3000 years while
Mesopotamia was other thrown countless
times.

13. Synopsis
It is remarkable what makes and shapes a
civilization from its political infrastructure, its
geography, religion, and so much more.
Each variable makes historians question what
makes each civilization prosper and not succumb to
outside or inside forces.

14. Works Cited
http://www-groups.dcs.st-
and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Babylonian_num
erals.html
Stearns, Peter N. World History in Brief:
Major Patterns of Change and Continuity.
Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.
http://web.archive.org/web/20001215160400/http://
www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/prehistory/egypt/hi
story/timeline.html