...How Geography Effected Ancient Cultures Mesopotamia and Egypt in the ancient world were in modern day Iraq, and Egypt is still there today. Culture in theses societies, was loosely based on their natural surroundings. While geography in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt differed in stability and protection, they were similar in farming opportunities, with comparable sources of water giving them both the chance to excel in agriculture. The river flooding in Mesopotamia and Egypt differed in predictability; while rivers in Mesopotamia were sporadic in flood patterns, the Nile in Egypt was very predictable in its flooding. This caused the two civilizations to have opposing ideas of the power of their gods. In ancient Mesopotamia, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were incredibly unpredictable, and when they flooded they caused frenzies in surrounding areas. This unpredictability was reflected in their religion, as they felt the flooding of the rivers was a punishment for something they did. In thinking they could never please the gods, the people of Mesopotamia believed one only had the underworld to look forward to after death. They viewed nature as something out to get them. This belief led to more selfishness in people, and as a result, people were generally less trusting. However, in Egypt, the Nile River and its yearly predictable flooding led to the creation of calendars to plan agriculture around flooding; therefore, the flooding would help, not hurt them. The predictability...
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...Ancient Egypt vs. Mesopotamia The decision to write this Paper came about as soon as I read the subject. I am in love with Ancient Cultures. It is very interesting to me to study and learn new things about the style of life peoples of ancient times lead, the type of housing and furniture ancient peoples possessed, the foods and resources they had at hand, as well as the religious and other daily values which ancient peoples believed in. To compare the Ancient Egyptian civilization to the civilization of Ancient Mesopotamia is surely going to be a task which will not be easy, especially since it is my personal believe that both of these grandiose civilizations cannot be compared to one another. Comparing the Ancient Mesopotamian Civilization to the Civilization of Ancient Egypt is not really possible once you think about the difference of years between the beginnings of each of these Civilizations. Mesopotamia is considered to be at the least 5000 years older than Ancient Egypt. The earliest civilized form of Human development in Mesopotamia is known to Historians to have occurred between 10500-3500 BC (Mayan Archeology), whilst Historians believe the Ancient Egyptian Civilization to have started between the years of approx. 5500- 3100 BC, which is what is considered the Pre-dynastic Period. (Experience ancient) While Ancient Egypt started to develop Mesopotamia already made big progress in forms of Farming, building the first settlements...
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...Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia Egypt and Mesopotamia, two of the earliest civilizations, both established around river valleys. Although these civilizations were located in close proximity to each other, their differing geographical features such as rivers and environmental factors led to the development of two very different societies. Rivers in the Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies played enormous roles in the growth of their civilizations. Egypt, located on both sides of the calm and predictable Nile River, agriculturally prospered from annual flooding that left behind rich, fertile soil known as silt. Flood waters would rise in July, slowly saturating the lands of the Nile River valley and recede in October leaving behind silt for farmers to cultivate and grow numerous crops. In contrast, Mesopotamia was located between the capricious and violent Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the valley known as the Fertile Crescent. While Mesopotamians relied on flooding for the fertile, silt rich soil as well, the unpredictability of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers caused unimaginable damages, some of which resulted in the destruction of entire villages. Environmental factors played a role in the creation of these civilizations, especially in their views of their gods. While Egypt experienced hot, dry, mild weather, Mesopotamia was subjected to, more destructive weather that included severe rainstorms, drought, hail, flooding...
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...The Nile River had a more positive affect on Egyptian Civilization than the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, as the floods in the Nile River were more predictable than the Tigris and Euphrates. Geography is the study of Earth; it’s landforms, features and inhabitants. It is important as it includes the study of our planet and what happens in nature, it studies people, helps with navigation, includes study of natural resources and let’s us appreciate life. Unfortunately, The Tigris and Euphrates River set a negative view of the afterlife for Mesopotamia, as they couldn’t foresee the floods that were going to happen. Thus, the people of Mesopotamia believed that the Gods were displeased or rather frustrated with them. This led them to believe that the afterlife was absolute misery. The rivers were used as a water supple and to irrigate crops, but also important for transportation and trade. Because of these rivers, Mesopotamia was a crossroads of the ancient world for trade between China, Egypt and India. As the Mesopotamians thought that their gods were furious at them, they built statues of them prayigg in hopes of them to please their gods....
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...VALEN, Aira Geyle C. --- AC402 * Political System A political system in which government is controlled by a king or queen is called a monarchy. In Sumer and Babylon, the king was often the monarch and the high priest. The position of these so-called priest-kings was relatively unstable. If the god(s) didn't provide for welfare of the citizens, the people often held the king responsible, and deposed him. Ancient Mesopotamia was a region that contained several city-states, much like Italy during the Italian Renaissance period. Mesopotamia at this time did not have a centralized government but, instead, had many smaller regions with their own separate governments. The early kings ruled over only their own city-states. Lacking a centralized government and leader, the ancient region was prone to internal fighting among the kings for land and resources. The Mesopotamians believed their kings and queens were descended from the City of Gods, but, unlike the ancient Egyptians, they never believed their kings were real gods. Most kings named themselves “king of the universe” or “great king”. Another common name was “shepherd”, as kings had to look after their people. Sumerians: Gilgamesh (c. 2650 BC) - Gilgamesh was the 5th king of the Sumerian city of Uruk. He became known as a demigod with superhuman strength in later legends and tales such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. Akkadian Empire: Sargon the Great (reigned 2334 - 2279 BC) - or Sargon of Akkad, founded the world's 1st...
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...Mesopotamia, an ancient Greek term meaning “the land between rivers”, is considered to be the cradle of civilization because this is where we find the origins of agriculture, written language, and cities. It was known as the land between two rivers, the Tigris to the north and the Euphrates to the south. Rains were seasonal in this area, which meant that the land flooded in the winter and spring and water was scarce at other times. Farming in the region depended on irrigation from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In ancient times, many resources in Mesopotamia were scarce or absent, which stimulated trade within the region and beyond. Supported by lucrative trade with its neighbors, Mesopotamia grew to become a powerful empire. Life in Mesopotamia Prehistory The settlement of humans in the Near East began with the movement of Homo erectus off the African continent roughly 2 million years ago during the Paleolithic period. Over the course of several thousand years, Homo erectus spread rapidly throughout the Near East and then into Europe and Southeast Asia. The first three phases of the Paleolithic period (Lower, Middle, and Upper) extend from roughly 2.5 million years BC through 14,000 BC. Each phase is defined by changes in human habitat, stone tool technology, and diet. During most of that time, humans lived in open-air campsites and in small natural caves. They hunted wild animals and fished, gathered wild plants, and wandered over a large geographic area. During...
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...When examining the ancient cultures of Egypt and Mesopotamia, it is vital to observe the distinct similarities between their religious beliefs. Considering the geographic closeness of the two ancient civilizations, Mesopotamia occupying mainly modern day Iraq, centered around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and Egypt which is still located in the region recognized as modern Egypt, centralized around the Nile River, and the overlapping time frame both of these societies occupied, it is not unexpected that Mesopotamia and Egypt would possess similar ideologies. Despite the fact that the political structure of these civilizations differed between Mesopotamia’s unstable collection of city-states and Egypt’s unified monarchy, both societies were comprised a polytheistic philosophy where the Gods reflected a larger, universal system. Furthermore, both ancient civilizations relied on the flooding of their adjacent rivers for survival and these floods manifested within their religious ideologies. Although, the annual flooding of the Nile gave the Egyptians a sense of comfort and satiability surrounding death and was the direct rational of the Egyptians belief that rebirth followed death, the inconsistent flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates left the Mesopotamian people uncertain of the continuity of lives, evident in their harsh God’s and lack of interpretation of what the after-life consists of. Nevertheless, the similarities between the two culture’s religious beliefs are far too comparable...
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...acquired knowledge. As a result, primitive people began to establish and populate regions of the ancient world forming structures of the early society. As societies expand, they form into civilization with sophisticated form of communications and development of technologies. Physical geography as well as natural resources can shape the cultures and societies around us. We know that early societies have adapted their ways of life for survival. The success or failure of the society can lead to expansion or downfall of a civilization. Environmental and geographic factors are known to contribute in the development of early civilizations such as Mesopotamia as well as the development of the United States through the process of diffusion from people and ideas over time. In the early civilizations, the presence of water symbolized life. Mesopotamia was the birth of early civilization due to its significant geographical characteristics, the rivers. The accessibility to water source from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers provided the early civilization with the knowledge to bring forth dependable food source. Mesopotamia was located in between two rivers (Soomo, 2013a). The Tigris River, which is shorter compared to the Euphrates River, has deeper channels, which can accommodate more water. The Euphrates River begins in the mountain of the Eastern Turkey. It is longer compare to Tigris River; however, water loss occurs through evaporation due to its hot & dry climate. "The Tigris...
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...Zeph Geyer Ancient World History Rough Draft 11/8/2014 In most civilizations in the ancient world, there were vast differences between the lives of men and women. For example, women could not serve in the Roman Senate, own property in ancient Greece, or ask for divorce. All of these rules existed while men had the ability to do all of these things. The life of a woman in the ancient world was in no way equal to men in most societies. The Egyptians believed that joy and happiness were of the utmost importance in life, and regarded the home and family as a major source of happiness. This meant that the Egyptian’s thought better of women who did not work, and took care of the home and family. All other ancient civilizations had one thing in common. Mesopotamia, Rome, Greece, and Israel were all surrounded by other sets of people. This meant that these other civilizations had to be warlike societies, and this meant women would have less of a role because men believed women could not fight as well in battle. Egypt developed under unique circumstances. The Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea separated the Egyptians from everyone else in the ancient world. In other words, the Egyptians did not have a warlike society because training like that was unnecessary. Since there was no need for a warlike society in Egypt, women had a more established role in society. Women’s rights in Egypt were more equal to men than other civilizations because of the unique circumstances under which...
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...for a stable, profitable foundation. There is an area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that once was the pinnacle of human society. In fact, this area is now known as Iraq; the birthplace of the world’s first civilization known as Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia is from Greek origin. It is translated to “Land between the rivers”, and these rivers were the main factor in the development and success of this thriving civilization. The biblical location of what many refer to as the Garden of Eden was located in Mesopotamia. These two rivers gave life to many civilizations in many ways. The Kingdom of Assyria, which is derived from the ancient city of Assur, was born from the banks of the Tigris River. The rivers flow from the north and run parallel to each other. Mesopotamia’s soil was so enriched over the years by the layers of silt left by the flooding and eventual receding of the two rivers making the soil left after the flooding perfect for crops. The flat plains of Mesopotamia proved to be very fertile thanks to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The hot, dry land of Mesopotamia was fertile due to the rich soil and with the use of irrigation crops were flourishing along with the people. The two rivers formed the foundation of the civilization, but the intuitiveness of this early civilization to utilize these rivers and its surroundings, was the key to its expansion. Mesopotamia was the location of the first civilization and arguably one of the most iconic military...
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...A. Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is known as the land between the rivers. The great rivers the Tigris and the Euphrates flow through the otherwise dry vast plains of Mesopotamia. The rivers start in the mountains emptying into the sea. The dry fertile soil of Mesopotamia is difficult to grown crops. But close to the rivers the land was fertile. The fertile soil comes down the rivers from the mountains and would collect when the rivers flood, creating the most fertile farmland in the world. This fertile land near the rivers created the rise of the earliest civilization in history. With the land irrigated by the rivers farming became extremely productive, large farming populations grew along the rivers with the increase in food productions societies formed and created the first civilization in world history. ("Ancient," n.d.) B. Tea A significant example of diffusion between early human societies can be seen in the popularity of tea around the world. As per Chinese legend tea was first discovered in 2737 B.C.. Sometime around the 9th century tea was first used in Japan. Japanese monks studying in China brought it back with them when they returned to Japan. Tea drinking and ceremonies have become an important part of the Japanese culture. The Dutch were the first to import tea back to Europe. In the 16th century tea was shipped from China to Holland it was expensive and seen as a drink for the wealthy. Tea was fashionable in Holland and started to spread to other...
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...between the Tigris and Euphrates River, the first civilization and founder of the many methods and ideas we hold today, now lay in ruins under the desert sands of present day Iraq. Mesopotamia is home to the invention of writing, our twelve month lunar based calendar, the wheel, the division of minutes to seconds, and the opening of the first routes to import and export trade. The Sumerians of Mesopotamia were enveloped by environmental conditions that constantly tested their skills and intellect for survival. This need for survival served as the basis that called forth the invention of methods and ideas that overtime increased and spiraled into the creation of a higher human society. Nature threatened the Sumerians with the very essentials needed to help sustain life. They were shadowed by the constant challenge of floods, droughts, winds, and heat. Faced with these hardships, they took the sources that made them vulnerable and invented ingenious methods and strategies to overcome their complex situation. The construction of canals, reservoirs, dams, and the wheel made it possible to control and deviate the rivers into selected areas. In result, such things as wheat and millet became abundant and a stable food supply was soon possible. Prosperity increased and groups began to colonize along the rivers and the population grew, gradually expanding their habitable land. Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning 'between the rivers'. The rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates which...
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...The Civilizations and Cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt Mesopotamia has been called the first civilization, forming around 2500 BC, but there was also another civilization being formed around the same time; the Egyptian civilization was formed by 3000 BC along the Nile River. Both civilizations were strongly influenced by geography, natural resources, and social class. The development of two great early civilizations were guided by the geography, natural resources, and social classes but these broad categories branched off in different directions for each civilization. Geography had a large impact on the successful development of these two civilizations. Both largely depended on nearby rivers for their success and were called the river civilizations. Mesopotamia translates to “land between rivers” which is exactly what it was. It was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These rivers provided for the Sumerians to develop an extensive irrigation system. They were also able to use the flooding of the rivers to their benefit, and all of these developments lead to them having things to trade which they also used the rivers to do. Goods were able to move from place to place along the river along with ideas. Similarly, the Egyptian civilization was strongly dependent on their river, the Nile, and they would have not made nearly as much advancement without it. When the Nile flooded it helped farming and agriculture by providing silt, helping the soil. Their irrigation...
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...Monday, September 22, 2014 Task One Part A-Mesopotamia According to Britannica Educational (2011), “The area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now Iraq is the site of ancient Mesopotamia, birthplace of the world’s first civilizations (p. 10).” The one significant factor would be the physical geographic location of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which create the fertile area of Mesopotamia. According to Britannica Educational (2011), “As the muddy streams flooded and receded, their silt built a plain rich with soil, ideal for agriculture (p. 10).” In order to develop a civilization and not have to move around like nomads there must be adequate resources. The geographical location of Mesopotamia between the two rivers contributed to the development of the civilization. Britannica, E. P. (2011). Ancient Civilizations : Mesopotamia. Chicago, IL, USA: Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com Task One Part B-Tea The origin of tea is very interesting. According to Saberi (2011), “There is little accurate historical information about the beginning of tea-drinking in China (p.29).” Saberi (2011) continues, “It is probable that by the first century BC people in Sichuan were infusing tea leaves in hot water (p.29).” Tea became a popular drink globally due to its transmission. Saberi (2011) states, “by the end of the fifth century tea was being exported or traded with Turkish and Mongolian merchants, usually in...
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...Mesopotamia (from the Ancient Greek: Μεσοποταμία: "[land] between rivers"; Arabic: بلاد الرافدين (bilād al-rāfidayn); Syriac: ܒܝܬ ܢܗܪܝܢ(Beth Nahrain): "land of rivers") is a name for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, corresponding to modern-day Iraq, the north eastern section of Syria and to a much lesser extent southeastern Turkey, smaller parts of south western Iran and Kuwait . A cylinder seal is a small round cylinder, typically about one inch in length, engraved with written characters or figurative scenes or both, used in ancient times to roll an impression onto a two-dimensional surface, generally wet clay. Cylinder seals were invented around 3500 BC in the Near East, at the contemporary sites of Susa in south-western Iran and Uruk in southern Mesopotamia Ishtar was the goddess of love, war, fertility, and sexuality. Ishtar was the daughter of Ninurta.[2] She was particularly worshipped in northern Mesopotamia, at the Assyrian cities of Nineveh, Ashur and Arbela (Erbil).[2] Besides the lions on her gate, her symbol is an eight-pointed star.[3] The history of the ancient Near East spans more than two millennia, from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, in the region now known as the Middle East, centered around the Fertile Crescent. There was much cultural contact, so that it is justified to summarize the whole region under a single term, but that does not mean, of course, that each historical period and each region should not be looked at individually...
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