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| Egypt | Mesopotamia | |
|---|---|---|
| Top of society | The Pharaoh | The king , living in a grand palace |
| Next | Government officials, nobles and priests | High priests and priestesses , part of the ruling class |
| Middle | Free landholders, artisans and merchants | Farmers, plus metalworkers, potters, weavers, merchants and traders |
| Bottom | Serfs and slaves | Common people in small brick houses |
| Centre of life | The pharaoh and the temple | The ziggurat - all economic activity tied to temple authority |
| Daily work | Farming along the Nile, crafts, building tombs | Farming, metalworking, pottery, textiles, trade |
Similarities
- Both had clear social hierarchies , with a ruler at the top.
- In both, priests held high status .
- In both, most people farmed .
- In both, rivers were central to farming and the economy.
Differences
- In Egypt the pharaoh was the centre of power. In Mesopotamia the temple controlled the economy.
- Egypt built pyramids for its dead rulers. Mesopotamia built ziggurats for its gods.
NCERT question · Questions and activities, Q11
Compare the social hierarchy and daily life of people in the Egyptian civilisation with those in Mesopotamia or China. What similarities and differences do you notice?
