World History

The Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilization developed simultaneously, its origins date back to 3500 bc. Both civilizations were sometimes influenced by each other. The Egyptian civilization was offered stability by the river Nile and the Mesopotamian – Persians developed in the river Tigris and Euphrates , formerly called the Babylonian or Babylonian – Assyrian civilization.

Both the Egyptian and  Mesopotamian civilizations differed from each other in many fundamental ways.  Egyptians were naturally protected due to there geography while Mesopotamians were always under the threat of foreign incursions. Unlike Egyptians Mesopotamians were also threatened by regular floods. Mesopotamian culture too was more warlike and pessimistic than Egyptians.

The political structure of Egyptian was unified compared to the Mesopotamians. The King was supreme in both the civilizations but Egyptians had centralized political outlook and The Mesopotamians had decentralized political structure.

For most part Egyptian population were divided into five classes 1. The royal family 2. The priests 3. The nobles 4. middle class 5. peasants. During the New Kingdom another class was added of professional soldiers. On the contrary Mesopotamians had four classes 1. Royalty 2. upper class 3. middle class 4. lower class. Polygamy was permitted under pharaohs of Egypt But normally the basic unit of family was of monogamous nature. Even Pharaohs, who could keep a harem of secondary wives and concubines had a chief wife. Concubinage was socially reputable institution and women were not entirely subordinated to Men under Egyptian civilization. Mesopotamians had rigid policies towards women, who could not even marry of her choice. Under the Mesopotamians women were completely subordinated to Men.