Question

8:45 < Cultural Comparison Assignment (M. Grade Detail to do so Directions: A student will pick any three civilizations covered in this class. Students will compare and contrast al three civilizations in terms of the following: 1) Social and Cultural: Examine everyday activities social order, and classes within the culture. (Example: how were women represented and treated in each culture?) 2) Political and Economic: What were their political structures like? What were their economies like? (Example: how did their political organizations differ?) 3) Diplomatic and Military: How much influence over the world did they have? How did they interact with their neighbors? (Example: Were there major wars during their histories? Were they conquerors? Were they conquered?) You can compare and contrast other themes within the three cultures you looked at as well; however, students must cover these themes in their essay. The essay should be written in collegiate format (organized with an introduction, thesis, body paragraphs and conclusion.) The paper must be in proper APA format Dashboard Calendar To Do nbox

pick 3 civilizations and compare them

Answer 1

Introduction:

Mesopotamian civilization :

Mesopotamia is a region of southwest Asia in the Tigris and Euphrates river system that profited from the area’s climate and geography to host the beginnings of human civilization. Its history is marked by many important inventions that changed the world, including the concept of time, math, the wheel, sailboats, maps, and writing. Mesopotamia is also defined by a changing succession of ruling bodies from different areas and cities that seized control over a period of thousands of years.

Egypt Civilization:

Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River in large part because the river’s annual flooding ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops. Egyptian rulers used the idea of divine kingship and constructed monumental architecture to demonstrate and maintain power. Ancient Egyptians developed wide-reaching trade networks along the Nile, in the Red Sea, and in the Near East.

Indus Valley Civilization:

The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization located in what is Pakistan and northwest India today, on the fertile flood plain of the Indus River and its vicinity. Evidence of religious practices in this area dates back approximately to 5500 BCE. Farming settlements began around 4000 BCE and around 3000 BCE there appeared the first signs of urbanization. By 2600 BCE, dozens of towns and cities had been established, and between 2500 and 2000 BCE the Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak.

Social and Culture :-

Mesopotamian Civilization:

Mesopotamians had a polytheistic civilization i.e. people believed in multiple gods. They also believed in demons. They had a variety of festivals, ceremonies, traditions, and much more, which became an important part of the lives of many.

In their daily lives, the men would go out and work, usually a specialized job, examples being a builder or musician, while the women stayed at home and took care of the house and raised children.

Infant mortality was high, as was a miscarriage.

Boys were raised learning skills they could use to work and girls were raised to be wives and mothers. After becoming a wife, a woman's role was to cook, clean, and raise children. If a woman had a job it was usually related to one of her household tasks.

Ancient Egypt Civilization :

Papyrus was only one of the technological advances of the ancient Egyptian culture. The Egyptians were also responsible for developing the ramp and lever and geometry for purposes of construction, advances in mathematics and astronomy, improvements in irrigation and agriculture, shipbuilding and aerodynamics the wheel and medicine.

he Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus (c. 1800 BCE) is an early treatise on women’s health issues and contraception and the Edwin Smith Papyrus (c. 1600 BCE) is the oldest work on surgical techniques.

Glassworking, metallurgy in both bronze and gold, and furniture were other advancements of Egyptian culture and their art and architecture are famous worldwide for precision and beauty. Personal hygiene and appearance were valued highly and the Egyptians bathed regularly, scented themselves with perfume and incense, and created cosmetics used by both men and women. The practice of shaving was invented by the Egyptians as was the wig and the hairbrush.

Indus Valley civilization:

The Indus Valley religion is polytheistic and is made up of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
They worshipped fertility symbols which were round or pierced stones, a practice that was performed before the worship of Shiva and Parvati in the form of Sivalinga.

The Indus valley was also one of the first civilizations to develop irrigation and farming systems, as well as developing farming to produce mass materials. The Indus valley also developed a form of tax, which involved the giving of grain as a base of economy which was seen as superior and very original of the time.

Political And Economic :

Mesopotamia:

The Mesopotamian economy was based on bartering—that is, trading goods and services for other goods and services. Bartering was necessary for people in Mesopotamia to get the resources they lacked.

The Mesopotamians also used the currency to help facilitate trade. Unlike modern systems of currency, which use paper money or coins, their system used barley.

Mesopotamians also used metals such as lead, copper, bronze, tin, gold, and silver, for currency.

The writing system that developed in Mesopotamian facilitated bartering, as scribes could keep contracts and records of trades. Once a deal was completed, it was recorded on a cylinder.

Ancient Egypt:

In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs had absolute power partly because most of these rulers governed justly, but primarily because of the theocracy. the people believed the pharaohs were descended from a god and were gods themselves.

The fertility of the Nile Valley and extensive irrigation systems enabled the Egyptians to reap large harvests. Because farmers produced more food than they needed for themselves, many of them became craftsmen or traders as well as farmers.

Egyptian traders relied mainly on ships to transport their goods. Trade reached its height during the New Kingdom when Egypt controlled the trade routes of the Near East. Egyptian ships carried products such as wheat and linens across the Mediterranean to Europe and Asia, returning with lumber and metal weapons, which Egypt did not produce.

Indus Valley:

The economy of Indus Valley Civilization was based upon agriculture as well as trade. Commerce was important and there were links from overseas places

There was the use of many kinds of metals including Gold, Silver, Copper, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Amethyst, Alabaster, Jade, etc. It has been guessed that among the precious stones in the Harappan civilization; Jade came from Central Asia, Turquoise came from Iran, Amethyst came from Maharashtra and Lapis lazuli came from Afghanistan.

Diplomatic and military :

Mesopotamia :

.Mesopotamian cities usually went to war for water and land rights. As cultures based on agriculture, land and sufficient water supply were vital to the well-being of their cities. They fought for that which was vital to them, as well as for less crucial motives such as preeminence.

the Mesopotamians captured riches upon riches through constant warfares. They demanded tribute from each conquered city, which was paid in precious metals, gems, silk, ivory, and slaves. With this wealth, the Assyrians built grand palaces of stone in Ashur and Nineveh. They also demanded contingents of military men from each conquered city and region, which would then be incorporated into the Assyrian army. The Assyrians were rightly feared as the most bloodthirsty, cruel empire of the time.

Egypt Civilization :

The Egyptians used a simple single-arched bow which was hard to draw, had a short range, and unreliable accuracy. The soldiers were all from the lower-class peasantry population and had little training. It is unlikely, though possible, that they would have had experience with a bow in hunting.

The peasantry owned no land in Egypt and hunting was prohibited without the consent of the upper-class landowner. Further, the Egyptian diet was mostly vegetarian and hunting was a sport of royalty. Still, with archers firing en masse from a closed position, these weapons could be very effective. After a volley or two of arrows, the soldiers would close with their opponents using hand weapons. The Egyptian navy at this time was used only to transport troops, not for enemy engagement.

Indus Valley Civilization :

Some historians believed the Indus civilization was destroyed in a large war. Hindu poems called the Rig Veda (from around 1500 BC) describe northern invaders conquering the Indus Valley cities.

In the 1940s, archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler discovered 39 human skeletons at Mohenjo-Daro. He believed that they were people killed by invaders.

Archaeologists now think this is not true. There is no evidence of war or mass killings. Indus Valley people seem to have been peaceful. If they had an army, they have left few signs of weapons or battles.