Compare and Contrast of Mesopotamian and Egyptian Rulers

There are a few similarities between the attitudes that people, in both Mesopotamia and Egypt, had about their rulers. Despite theses similarities, there were also significant differences. There were very different definitions of who ruled, and how they ruled, each land.

Mesopotamia was the first identifiable civilization in the Ancient world. Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, it was given its name by the Greeks, literally meaning “the country between rivers.” The name referred mainly to the land of Sumer, however it also included the countries of Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria. All were connected by the Tigris and the Euphrates, which flooded swiftly and irregularly (at different times during the year).

Ancient Egypt was located closer to the Nile and Indus rivers. The Nile Valley of Egypt was notably different from the Tigris and Euphrates. The waters flowed slowly and flooded on a much more predictable basis . Rock walls and barren desert closed off Egypt from the rest of the continent.

In Mesopotamia, it was believed that gods ruled the world. They were said to have behaved like human beings only they lived much longer; they existed forever. Each individual god embodied the most important natural

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Kings and military leaders arose in Mesopotamia to bring order to the land, yet in Egypt no one questioned the authority of the Pharaoh.

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**Bibliography**

McNeill, William A HISTORY OF THE HUMAN COMMUNITY, VOL. Aside from the gods, there were kings and military leaders who tried to assume control, creating conflict with the priests (who related the commands of the gods to the people).

The military leaders and kings that took power often found difficulty with the priests, which translated into difficulty with the gods. But, if their forecasts failed to materialize, they took credit for preventing disaster, which elevated their status in society even more.

Since waters around Egypt were abundant and it was a solitary land, battles were non-existent. ” Ultimately the gods were the supreme rulers, not the kings.

The priests met annually at Nippur to talk things over and make important decisions about their cities and surrounding communities. There were special servants for each god; people who took care of their daily wants and needs, and also watched for “signs of their intentions. In situations where many are at power, chaos can occur, as it did in Mesopotamia. There was no need for other types of rulers to lead citizens to victory over one another. Statues, set in individual temples, represented each god.

Conversely, Egyptians looked to one man as their ruler, the Pharaoh. Mesopotamian gods lived forever on earth; the Egyptian Pharaoh’s soul carried on into the after-life when his body was deceased.

Mesopotamians and Egyptians believed that gods ruled their lands.

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