Mesopotamian civilization extended from Sumer in 3000 BC to the Neo-Babylonian Empire around 600 BC. Society was hierarchical, with the king and aristocracy controlling power and wealth. In ancient Egypt, which lasted from 3100 BC to 31 BC, the pharaohs had absolute power and were considered gods. Noblemen, priests, scribes, and soldiers comprised other elite classes. Both civilizations featured hierarchical social structures, polytheistic religions, and artistic traditions including architecture, sculpture, and relief carvings.

1. 1 ESO. UNIT 9: ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT. ANSWER KEY
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1. The endof Prehistoryismarkedbythe inventionanduse of writing.Fromthattime onwards,
humans could record their knowledge and experience, that is, their history.
2. Early civilisationssharedanumberof characteristics:political power – a rulerwas defended
by an army and assisted by a number of high state officials; social hierarchy – a small minority
of privilegedpeopleheldcontrol overgreatmassesof poorpeople;andlarge-scaleconstruction,
especially for irrigation and religious purposes.
5. Chinese, Indian, Mesopotamian and Egyptian.
6 The Huang He and Yangtze, the Indus, the Tigris and Euphrates, and the Nile.
7 All the great early civilisations were located just north of the Tropic of Cancer. They were in
temperate zones, which were neither too hot nor too cold for human settlement.
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5. Mesopotamia means "between rivers" in Greek.
6 MesopotamiancivilisationextendedfromSumerin3000 BC to the Neo-BabylonianEmpire of
around 600 BC.
7 Sumer; Akkadian; Babylonian; Assyrian; Neo-Babylonian.
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2. The king and aristocracy, priests, and high officials controlled the power and wealth in
Mesopotamian society. Other social groups such as craftsmen and peasants were poor and
powerless but free, unlike the slaves, who had no rights.
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3. The drydesertswere calledthe ‘redlands’.Mostpeoplelivedinthe rivervalleyknownasthe
‘black lands’, covered by dark fertile mud from the river.

2. 4 Old Kingdom – Pyramids built at Giza. Middle Kingdom – Capital moved to Thebes. New
Kingdom – Libya and Syria conquered.
5 Ancient Egypt lasted from 3100 BC to 31 BC, or more than three thousand years.
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1. The pharaohs had absolute power and were considered gods by the Egyptians.
2 Noblemanwere governorsappointedbythepharaohs,priestsdirectedreligiousrituals,scribes
kept important official records, and soldiers protected the borders.
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1. a) The scribe and astronomer Nakhtand his wife are largerthan other figuresinthe image
because they are the most important people in the scene.
b) Typical features of Egyptian art: its hierarchical aspect so important figures are larger than
the rest; the frontal viewof figures withtheirheadsturnedtoone side so that theyare seenin
profile;theidealizationofyouthandbeauty;andingeneral,thestaticnature of thecomposition.
c) The depictionof agricultural scenesinthe tombof Nakhtisprobablyanofferingof respectto
the appropriate gods so that they will provide food and assistance in the afterlife. It is also a
record of Nakht’s importance in life as a state official.
d) Apart fromNakht’swife,the onlywomeninthe sceneare showncollectingflax.Allthe other
tasks are being done by men.
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1.
Mesopotamia Egypt
Territory Betweenthe TigrisandEuphrates From the Mediterranean,south
alongthe course of the Nile
Main stages Sumerian – Akkadian –Babylonian – OldKingdom– Middle Kingdom
inhistory Assyrian – Neo-Babylonian – New Kingdom
Political organisation Rulingking,nobles,priests,scribes Rulingpharaoh,nobles,priests,
scribes,soldiers
Society Hierarchical Hierarchical

3. Religionandbeliefs Polytheistic Polytheistic,pharaohamong
gods
Art Architecture,sculptureandrelief Architecture,sculptureand
painting