Mesopotamia and ancient Egyptian had many things in common, even though they differed in several ways. The two civilizations were always ahead in terms of inventions, something that made them different from the rest of the cultures at the time. Their inventions affected life in many ways, and they still affect the way people conduct themselves in daily life.
For instance, Mesopotamia was known for its invention as far as writing concerned, which was mainly referred to as Cuneiform meaning the wedge-shaped.
This form of writing was mainly used in a trade whereby merchants would record what they bought and sold at the marketplace. Mesopotamia invented the wheel that was used in connecting the chariots. This invention played a major role in the transport sector, as it eased the movement of people and goods from one place to the other (Spielvogel 36).
Other discoveries in Mesopotamia included the invention of glass and high tech weapons, including daggers and spears. On the other hand, the ancient Egyptians had various inventions that are still important in the modern society, including the invention of the advanced writing system that was referred to as Hieroglyphics, which had over seven-hundred words.
The invention of the wheel was critical, as it led to the discovery of paper, which was a major writing material. Other inventions included the triangular pyramid that was specifically used in burying the mighty in society, including their king pharaoh. Finally, the ancient Egyptians invented game boards, such as the Senet and Snake, which facilitated the development of the modern games.
A close analysis of inventions of the two civilizations suggests that they both honored their death since they aspired to come up with pyramids that would be used in burying the fallen heroes. For Egyptians, they considered the king as the god; hence, they had to come up with a structure that would be used at the burial.
In this regard, it can be observed that they both believed there was life after death, and the spirits of the dead would haunt the living in case a proper ceremony was not conducted. Additionally, the two cultures valued education, as they both came up with the writing system that supported teaching.
The first writings were in the form of pictographs and were written on clay, even though the meanings were different. The invention of the board games, as well as other fun stuff, suggests that the two cultures valued entertainment. In the education system, the two cultures contributed enormously, particularly in the field of mathematics, whereby they invented algebra, geometry, and other forms of mathematical equations (Lembright 13).
Even though the two cultures invented various pyramid structures, the uses and the quality were different, as the major role of these pyramids in the Egyptian culture was to bury the dead. The quality of Egyptian pyramids was superior meaning that their culture belonged to a high class as compared to that of the Mesopotamia. Because of quality, the ancient Egyptian pyramids still stand even in the current society.
Unlike Mesopotamia, ancient Egyptians invented paper, and all writings were done on it. In terms of time management and timing of events, the two cultures had minor variations. For instance, the Egyptians had extra days in their calendar, which were 365 as compared to Mesopotamia, which had 354.
Works Cited
Lembright, Robert. Western Civilization: Volume I. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill/Dishkin, 2005. Print.
Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2011. Print.