In order to compare the two cultures in a religious sense, the way they lived and dealt with their surroundings must be examined. Life for the ancient Mesopotamians was precarious and day-to-day. The openness of the river valley lead to vulnerability from both raiding tribesmen and the elements. The climate was very harsh, with unpredictable flooding in the spring and at harvest time. There was also rapid evaporation, leading to the need for a reliable irrigation system. There were little natural resources for building purposes (stone and timber), leading to the need for both the establishment of trade routes and alternate building methods. The lifespan of the cities themselves was quite often unpredictable, usually coinciding with the water supply on which it so depended. The cities of Ur, Ashur and Akkad are examples of cities that disappeared without a trace. The Egyptian delta was considered the most abundant oasis in the region in terms of natural resources. Bounded on the east and west by desert and on the north the Mediterranean Sea, the re

Within 400 years of King Narmer's unification, a pattern can be seen in the way the pharaohs ruled. These rulers reigned through divine right and were seen as the defender of law and order as well as the intermediary between god and man. Although not a god the king or pharaoh was omnipotent like the god he represented and also had the power to grant the gods wishes. The presence and well being of the ruler guaranteed the maintaining of the status quo. This led to the people striving to achieve the favor of the pharaoh in order to preserve order and peace. The divine kingship of the pharaoh was based on the ideal that he was the incarnation of the god he represented and was seen as unchanging and eternal. The lives of those he ruled were only seen as eternal when life itself was over on earth.

In addition to the pyramids of the pharaohs were also immortalized through the use of art and monuments. Statues and artwork unearthed in recent times depict the ruler of the era in unnatural poses perhaps to remind generations to come of the god-like characteristics of the original.

As civilization progressed, the steward to the god eventually became like a king although still holding the honor of being the link between god and man. This signaled the end of theocratic socialism and also led to drastic change and even war.

gion was much more easily defendable than the Mesopotamian river valley. The availability of sandstone and limestone gave plentiful building materials. Papyrus was also readily available for the building of boats, construction of matting and for writing material. The flooding and even the drought seasons fell during the same time frame each year, allowing for planting and harvesting to occur according to a corresponding schedule. The broad, fertile valley leads to easy irrigation and waster conservation.

In contrast to its Mesopotamian counterpart the afterlife was a very important part of Egyptian life. Signs of this are still evident today through the Pyramids of Geza. These huge s

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Approximate Word count = 1360
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)