Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia climate affect governments

Geography and climate had an influence on the formation of government in ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia. Both civilizations have similarities and differences. The rivers were fundamental in both areas. In Egypt there was the Nile, it was calm and predictable which resulted in a calm and gentle ruling system, where in Mesopotamia, the Tigris and Euphrates were harsh, resulting in a harsh and strict government. Also, the bordering seas played a major role in both civilizations when it came to trading; the red sea in Egypt and the Persian gulf in Mesopotamia.

In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia there were the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates. All three rivers were large and provided fertile land for agriculture. Both civilizations bordered seas, which proved for great trading routes. However, Egypt was flat and desert, (it was isolated from other civilizations.) Mesopotamia was hilly and a large fertile area, (it was not isolated). Both are in the same latitude, thus having fairly similar climates. However similar or different the geography and climate was in both areas, it worked differently in each.

The two civilizations were remarkably different, however there were several similarities. For one, they were both monarchies, headed by a king/pharaoh. They were also in the same latitude resulting in similar climates; the land in both regions was extremely fertile and the climate ideal, therefore they had similar crops such as wheat and barley. Because they were able to produce mass crops, they could then feed large amounts of labourers, allowing the king/pharaoh to have labourers to build the great structures both civilizations were able to make. In ancient Egypt there were large pyramids and temples, while in Mesopotamia there were ziggurats and the hanging gardens of Babylon.

As great as the similarities were, the differences were even greater. Both civilizations had great rivers. However, in Egypt, the Nile was much calmer, gentler, and more predictable. This resulted in a high standard of living and an easier life in Egypt. In Mesopotamia on the other hand, had a very harsh and unpredictable river, which resulted in a harsher society and harsher government. In Egypt the land was flat, and the fertile land was around the Nile, the rest of Egypt was desert making it impossible for nomadic tribes to survive out there in large numbers, (which caused no threat to Egypt). Also, the Nile flowed North, while the Red Sea’s winds blew south, enabling easy transportation and communication. This enabled the Pharaoh to easily watch over his lands and was easily notified if there were any foreign invasions. Menes, a pharaoh, united lower and southern Egypt, creating a large and unified Egypt. Mesopotamia however, was hilly, and fertile all around, firstly causing it to be almost impossible to unite and many nomadic tribes lived around in different areas. Thus, Mesopotamia was not unified; however it was divided into many small city-states, which were always invading each other. Due that Egypt had long reigns of stability and life was easier, Gods were more appreciated and worshipped, their laws (the Egyptians) were based on a man to god, while the Mesopotamians harsh life led their laws to be strict and harsh. Hammurabi’s Laws are ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ In Mesopotamia, gods were considered harsh and cruel, and people were expected to be efficient as there was no room for errors. In Egypt the king/pharaoh was considered a god who brought all this wealth to Egypt, while in Mesopotamia; the kings were humans with no ‘super powers.’

The Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, red sea, similar latitudes, desert, or even hills are all things that ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia have. However, each had their own influences on each region. This caused a surprising large difference between the two relatively close civilizations. Both climate and geography influenced the government of both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in more ways than one, however not entirely the same way.