In ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was believed to be a god and was at the top of the social pyramid. Priests had high status and wealth due to leading religious rites promoting the Pharaoh's divine status, while peasants made up most of the population. In Mesopotamia, creation myths involved gods forming social groups and kings were thought to descend from city gods, unlike Egypt where the Pharaoh was considered an actual deity. Priests there gained status by celebrating gods to solicit divine assistance for people.

1. Social, Political, and
Religious Order in Egypt
and Mesopotamia
By K. Mak
For Mr. Haskvitz

2. Egyptian Order: Pharaoh
• The Pharaoh was the “god” of Egypt.
• He was at the top of the social triangle.
• The King was worshipped and given a god-like
status such as not being able to look him into the
eye, touching him, and kneeling in his presence.
• Many people believed that the pharaoh himself
had descended from Ra, the Sun God, which
was one of the most important gods in Egypt.
• Even after he was dead, his status of King
remained so.
• People worshipped the dead Pharaohs.

3. Egyptian Order: Priests
• Priests lead religious rites to promote the belief
of the Pharaoh having a god-like status.
• Because of their high status, they owned plenty
of land and many herds.
• They were also extremely wealthy due to their
high status.
• Thousands of servants were in their possession.
• Priests were the only ones who could go to the
inner temples in times of trouble.
• This way, the gods could give assistance to the
people.

4. Egyptian Order: Peasants
• Peasants and farmers made up as much
as 80% of the population in Egypt.
• They were at the bottom of the social
pyramid.
• During flood seasons, farmers would work
on buildings needed for the government
and the pharaoh.
• They were the largest workforce before
slaves came into play.

5. Mesopotamian Order
• Mesopotamian religion brought the first myths to
the world.
• Taimat and Abzu, the two gods that rose from
the Chaos of Water, created all the other gods.
• Together, they formed a council on how to rule
the world, known as the Annunaki.
• The gods bound the people together in separate
social groups and provided them with what they
needed to survive.

6. Mesopotamia Order
• The Sumerians believed that if
you had celebrations and honors
exclusively for them, they would
offer help to the people.
• Therefore, the priest class was
born.

7. Mesopotamian Order
• The gods determine the destinies of
king, state, country, men and
mankind.
• The Kings were believed to have
descended from the city gods, but
unlike Egypt, they were not actually
considered real gods.

8. Ziggurats
• Ziggurats were built for the Gods of
Mesopotamia.
• They were to worship the God of Heaven
and the God of Earth.
• The practice of building ziggurats over
other ziggurat ruins was very popular.

9. Assessment
1. Who did the pharaoh descend from?
2. Why did priests have religious ceremonies?
3. Why was the priest class of Mesopotamia created?
4. Who were the Sumerian Kings supposedly descendants of?
5. What is the difference between the status of the kings of
Egypt and Mesopotamia?
6. What council did Abzu and Taimat form?
7. What was the purpose of the council?
8. Why were priests so wealthy in Ancient Egypt?
9. Who was the largest work force in Ancient Egypt?

10. Answers
1. Ra, the Sun god
2. To promote the belief of the pharaoh as god.
3. To help celebrate the Gods of Mesopotamia.
4. The city gods.
5. Egyptians believed that their pharaoh was an
actual god, while Mesopotamians did not
actually consider their king a god.
6. The Annunaki.
7. They helped bound the people together in
separate social groups and provided them with
what they needed to survive.
8. Their high status granted them many things
including wealth.
9. Peasants and farmers.