Relationship between Relationship between Mesopotamia and Mesopotamia and

EgyptEgyptBy: Amy TsaiBy: Amy Tsai

for Mr. Haskvitzfor Mr. Haskvitz

Religion in Ancient Egypt To the Ancient Egyptians, religion was very important which influenced their traditions One of the most important religion was Divine Kingship

Divine Kingship- a belief that the Pharaoh is not only the king but also a god. The Pharaoh was believe to be Horus, son of Re the sun god, who later became Osiris, king in the after life.

Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic- believed in many gods Only monotheistic during Pharaoh Akhenaton’s rule which only worshiped Aten believed in 700 gods and goddesses like Horus, Osiris, Isis, Anubis, Ra, Seth, and more.

Their religion was later mixed with the Greeks, Romans and lastly Islam. As these groups gain control In Egypt, they also mixed their religion with Egyptians

Mummification and the afterlife Because Ancient Egyptians believed in afterlife,

they believe that afterlife is just like this world and they would need everything they have right now including the materials and tools for their jobs and their bodies and food.

Egyptians preserve their bodies so they would look the same in the afterlife. They use mummification to prevent the body from being rotten.

The cutter would first take out all the organs and puts them in different jars, and use a long tube stick in through the nose to get the brain out. Then the cutter throws the brain away because it is believed useless and meaningless.

The embalmer then would use salt to preserve the body and wrap it up and put the body in a sarcophagus. The more wealthy this person is the more pretty its sarcophagus is going to be.

All of the process of mummification is being oversee by scribes.

Tombs and pyramids were build for people that could afford it. Pharaohs often built big, golden pyramids with secret passages inside to trap the thieves that tries to steal it’s possessions.

Gold , food, models of houses, boats, farms, and animals were included inside of tombs and pyramids preparing for their afterlife.

King Tut’s tomb was one of the well preserved mummies.

Religion in MesopotamiaReligion in Mesopotamia

Like the Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamian were also polytheistic and believed in many gods and goddesses. Like the Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamian were also polytheistic and believed in many gods and goddesses. Gods and goddesses acted just like people and has supernatural powers. Gods and goddesses acted just like people and has supernatural powers.

Does, feels, and eats what people does, feels, and eatsDoes, feels, and eats what people does, feels, and eats Sumerians look to their religion to answer all of their questions about life and death, good and evil, and forceSumerians look to their religion to answer all of their questions about life and death, good and evil, and forces of nature. s of nature.

There are four major gods believed by the Sumerians (Mesopotamians) that created and controlled the There are four major gods believed by the Sumerians (Mesopotamians) that created and controlled the universe. universe. An god of heaven, Enlil was the air-god, Enki was the water-god, and Ninhursag was the mother earth- gAn god of heaven, Enlil was the air-god, Enki was the water-god, and Ninhursag was the mother earth- goddess. oddess.

ZIGGURATSZIGGURATS

Each city was controlled by their Each city was controlled by their own patron god or goddesses that own patron god or goddesses that controls everything. controls everything.

People make prayers, sacrifices, People make prayers, sacrifices, and sing hymns in zigguratsand sing hymns in ziggurats

Ziggurats were temple towers that Ziggurats were temple towers that has a shape of a pyramid similar to has a shape of a pyramid similar to Egypt’s pyramids. Egypt’s pyramids.

the center of both religion and the center of both religion and learning for the entire learning for the entire community community

temples connected heaven temples connected heaven and earth and earth

Like the Egyptians, Mesopotamians Like the Egyptians, Mesopotamians believed that gods and goddess brings believed that gods and goddess brings and cause disasters or wealth to the and cause disasters or wealth to the cities.cities.

Floods, illness, good health Floods, illness, good health Believed that pleasing gods brings Believed that pleasing gods brings

success success

Social Orders in Egypt

The social pyramid in Egypt shows:

– Pharaoh, Government Officials (nobles, priests) , soldiers, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers, slaves and servants.

Pharaoh appoints vizier to collect taxes

– They were chief ministers Scribes work with Vizier to keep

government records.– These high employees knew how to read and

write. Nobles could hold government

posts and got wealthy from donations to god from the people

Priests were responsible in pleasing the gods

Soldiers fought in wars and supervise the workers that builds the pyramids.

Skilled workers make up the middle class .(physicians and craftspeople )

Craftspeople made and sold goods Merchants trade and sold goods to

public Slaves and servants did all the dirty work

like cleaning toilets and building structure. These people are mostly captured in wars.

Social Orders in Mesopotamia

King always on top of social pyramids or hierarchy Like the Egyptians, the Priests in Mesopotamia were just as important as the

king. High level in social hierarchy Right below the king Performed religious ceremonies People rely to earn gods’ favor Tells people what god wish them to do

Skilled craftspeople, merchants, and traders Trade great impact on Sumerian society Travels many places Exchange goods

Farmers and laborer Large working class

Slaves bottom of the social order

Political Orders in EgyptPolitical Orders in Egypt

► Political system base on :Political system base on : Believing Pharaoh both king Believing Pharaoh both king

and god (Divine Kingship)and god (Divine Kingship) Pharaoh absolute power over Pharaoh absolute power over

all peopleall people► people believed that pharaoh people believed that pharaoh

came down from heaven to rule came down from heaven to rule EgyptEgypt

Pharaoh many responsibilities Pharaoh many responsibilities ► Blamed when corps not grow, Blamed when corps not grow,

or disease struckor disease struck► Made all laws Made all laws

Nobles help run government Nobles help run government and templesand temples

People demanded pharaoh People demanded pharaoh make trade profitable and make trade profitable and prevent warsprevent wars

Political Orders in MesopotamiaPolitical Orders in Mesopotamia

► MenMen:: Political powerPolitical power Made lawsMade laws Got educationGot education

► City-statesCity-states Depended on military Depended on military

► Stronger, controlled larger areasStronger, controlled larger areas► Fought for farm landsFought for farm lands

Made strong armiesMade strong armies► Gain and lost power over timeGain and lost power over time

Kish strong city-state in 3500BCKish strong city-state in 3500BC Uruk and Ur fought for power arouUruk and Ur fought for power around 4500BCnd 4500BC

Thank you !Thank you !

In conclusion, the religion, social, and In conclusion, the religion, social, and political orders in Egypt and Mesopotamia political orders in Egypt and Mesopotamia were based on their believes in their gods were based on their believes in their gods

and goddesses. and goddesses.