Compare and Contrast: Mesopotamian and Egyptian Rulers

             There are a few similarities between the attitudes that people in both Mesopotamia and Egypt had about their rulers. Despite these 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 entities; they were earth, sky, sun, moon, storm, freshwater, and saltwater. Statues, set in individual temples, represented each god. They inhabited the statues in the same manner that souls inhabit human bodies. Mesopotamian cities developed around the temples of the gods. The people of these cities were servants to their gods. If they served them well, they would reap the benefits. However, if the gods were not pleased, there would be severe repercussions in the form of famine, invasion and so forth.
             The people of Mesopotamia believed that the gods were petty, just as people could be. They feared a sudden change in their gods' moods and carefully kept track of each god's needs. There were special servants for each g...

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