6/12/2013

IIM

EGYPT AND MESOPOTAMIA

Anne | #24

IS 187 6C

Anne 6/12/13

IIM
This paper will discuss the technology and geography of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Egypt is best known for its pyramids, which were built using the technology of engineering. Mesopotamia is most noted for being the first civilization. In both Egypt and Mesopotamia, geography contributed to the development of technology, which in turn led to the advancement of these civilizations. The word Mesopotamia means between the rivers in Greek. Ancient Mesopotamia was in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq). The land there is fertile (hence the name) and therefore good for farming. However, the yearly floods caused some problems, so the Mesopotamians started to irrigate the fields. In Egypt, almost the same thing happened. According to the British Museum, the Egyptians thought of Egypt as being divided into two lands: the red land (the desert) and the black land (the fertile banks of the Nile River). The ancient Egyptians used this land for farming because the floods deposited rich, black silt there, and they couldnt farm in the desert anyway. They built many ditches, canals, and waterways to get the Nile floods to go where they wanted. Although the Nile River was calmer than the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, both civilizations developed extensive irrigative systems to control their rivers. These irrigative systems made farming easier and less time-consuming. The people could now concentrate on other things like art and technological advances. In the textbook it says that Mesopotamians invented the wheel, made pottery, and

had division of labor. The zodiac signs, law codes, and calculation of time and angles also came from Mesopotamia, according to the International History Project. They also invented cuneiform, a writing system using wedge-shaped symbols pressed into soft clay tablets with styluses. Egyptians developed writing at about the same time. It was called hieroglyphics and was written on papyrus, a type of paper invented in Egypt. Ducksters says that the Egyptians also invented a variety of medicines, ships, and even toothpaste. Both civilizations used math, built pyramids, and had writing. There were some differences. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were more turbulent than the Nile, and required better irrigation systems. The Egyptians were better shipbuilders, because Egypt was closer to the sea. However, both Egypt and Mesopotamias positions in river valleys gave them enough water to grow crops, and the irrigation systems made that easier. With the extra time, the people invented useful technologies, which helped advance the development of civilization.

Bibliography "Achievements of Ancient Mesopotamia." History-world.org. International History Project, 2003. Web. 13 June 2013. <http://historyworld.org/achievements_of_ancient_mesopota.htm>. "Geography & Maps." Mrdonn.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/geography.html>. "Geography." Ancientegypt.co.uk. British Museum, n.d. Web. 12 June 2013. <http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/home.html>. Salter, Christopher L., Dr. Eastern Hemisphere, Grades 6-8 Holt Mcdougal Eastern Hemisphere. N.p.: Holt McDougal, 2009. Print. "Ancient Egyptian History for Kids: Inventions and Technology." Ducksters.com. Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI), June 2013. Web. 13 June 2013. <http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_egypt/inventions_and_technol ogy.php>.