1. Civilization is the stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced.
Mesopotamia and Egypt are among the four ancient civilizations for their religious, social, political and economic development.
The Egyptians are known for their achievements and contributions in the fields of medicine, statecraft, arts and architecture, mathematics and engineering, as proven by the Great Pyramid and how they mummified their deads to preserve their bodies.
Women in Ancient Egypt also had a comparatively high status as they are allowed to own and sell properties, make contracts, marry and divorce, receive an inheritance and pursue legal disputes in courts. However, public office was almost always reserved for men.
On the other hand, the Mesopotamia originated in the Fertile Crescent, which is known in history as the Cradle of civilization. Because of the geography, the first Mesopotamian populations are hunters and gatherers. Their dependence on food paved the way for the development of better agricultural tools, farming practices and irrigation.
The concept of God and religion are also believed to have started in Mesopotamia, giving rise to the Ziggurats or the temple towers that represent their sacred mountains.
Important pieces of Mesopotamian architectures are the Ziggurat of Ur and the White Temple which was built on the Anu Ziggurat.
2. The Ancient Egyptian civilization produced the first government to rule an entire nation. The Unified Kingdom of Egypt covered an entire country of thousands of square miles in size and with millions of people.
Ancient Egyptians were ruled by the Pharaoh both in the political and religious aspects. He bears the title"Lord of the Two Lands" referring to both Upper and Lower Egypt, and "High Priest of Every Temple" meaning he represents all the gods on Earth.
The Egyptian government has an army, and an elaborate organization of officials, scribes and overseers to reach down to the lowliest villager. They have 42 regions, each governed by a nomarch. The Pharaoh is also being surrounded in his palace by high officials, ministers and courtiers.
A Vizier also serves the Pharaoh and represents him in the administration of land, treasury and the legal system.
Farmers also made up the bulk of the society of Egypt, but the land that they farm is considered to be owned by the Pharaoh, the wealthy and by the noble families. Slavery is also widely rampant in Ancient Egypt.
On the other hand, the government and societies of Ancient Mesopotamians revolved around their temples. In time, the supreme powers of the priests in the temples were replaced by kings.
Mesopotamia was also constituted by a network of cities, where the larger cities are surrounded by numerous satellite villages. The city or settlement was mostly surrounded by baked brick walls and evolved around a temple, like a monumental structure (granaries, storehouses, and other administrative houses).
In later phases of their society, the royal palace also existed near the city center and the city gates and the city center were connected by wide streets.
Social structure also exists in Ancient Mesopotamia where the houses of the elite and the common people are located away from public places. Their houses also had courtyards where most windows are opened towards it. Foreign traders are also accommodated in houses around the harbors.
The Sumerians were the distinct class that has emerged in Ancient Mesopotamia because of their advanced knowledge in farming and irrigation technics. They also built wheeled chariot and carts, and the cuneiform, which is considered the oldest writing.
3. Some of the ancient ideas that still exist today are the following:
- wheel and the chariot;
- sailboat;
- agricultural tools, like the plow;
- many concepts in Astrology;
- the map;
- the concept of zero in math;
- the concept of time;
- some hygenic practices like the use of tampons;
- dental fillings;
- taking pulse;
- and many other important innovations and discoveries that were made during their time.
