History of Civilizations, 111 (Compare/Contrast Mesopotamia and Egypt)

Civilizations have the same essential components; cultural beliefs, writing system, and cities. The make up of these components are what define and separate one from another. To truly see the differences, one must first asses the similarities. The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia both had pictographic writing systems, polytheistic religious belief systems, pyramidal structures, and an organised social class.

Both civilizations dealt with environmental, economic, and social issues, and invasions by other cultures. Each existed on the banks of large rivers, Egypt on the Nile River and Mesopotamia on the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

The Egyptians used hieroglyphics for writing, using small images to represent words, sounds, or ideas, often relying on context for translation. They also had a less formal version called hieratic for quick scribing and daily life. Their Pharaoh was originally viewed as the voice of the gods, but during the New Kingdom, direct worship of the loving gods was more emphasized. Egyptians believed the heart was the holder of thoughts and emotions, and focused heavily on the afterlife. Living a worthy life to become a blessed spirit on Earth after death. Pyramids in Egypt were used for burials as well as for worship, shaped in a complete pyramid made from either stone or mud. Women were given more regard in Ancient Egypt than in many other socities, their focus was more on class and economic position, although the law recognised all as relatively equal excluding slaves who still had basic rights.

Mesopotamians wrote using cuneiform, also developed from pictograms for writing Sumerian. Their religious system is similar to Greek and Roman structure with a group of finicky Gods under one leader. Philosophy was more important to their culture, asking why they exist and from where they originated. Ziggurats are the Sumerian version of pyramids, with more of a boxy structure made from brick used as shrines and safe strongholds for priests to perform rituals. Although women had rights in Mesopotamia, it was a patriarchal society benefiting those with a better economic status. Even their laws followed that bias.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Roman Bath Houses)

Roman bath houses were not the first incarnation of bath houses, some date back as far as 2500 BC, first with naturally warm waters from volcanic activity. Once they developed hypocaust, a system for transporting hot or cold water to different areas, every Roman city had an extravagant bathing facility. Bath houses were a social hot bed for the Romans, often becoming dens of stagnant hot water where hedonistic socialites would drink, have sex, and make merry.

Versions of these bath houses still exist all around the world, ranging in use from recreational to healing. In Asia, gender separate bath houses are used for relaxation and bonding. For example, Koreans will go in groups together and as a show of friendship, they will scrape the dead skin from each other's backs. The Szechenyi Baths in Budapest, Hungary is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. It is supplied by natural thermal springs below ground and has 15 indoor pools with different minerals to treat varying ailments in each bath.

Regular swimming pools are another modern evolution from ancient bath houses. As they were in ancient times, bath houses and swimming pools serve as modern day watering holes for people to cool off and socialise in a relaxed setting. Luckily, we've since upped the sanitation standards.