Early Complex Societies: Americas - Egypt

Early Complex Societies: Americas - Egypt

Meso-America and South America, when compared to Egypt, have tons of differences and similarities of which both play a very important role in the making of these cultures and societies. These differences and similarities create a form of community that makes everything about the Meso-American, South American, and Egyptian cultures very special.

The most universal similarity found among all three of these cultures is the role of the woman in society. Women had very little or no freedom and were generally the keepers of the household and took care of family needs. Other connections between these three cultures include the belief in mythology, worship of various animals, and art. The Meso-Americans, South Americans, and Egyptians all associated many gods and goddesses in their myths that expressed the beliefs and traditions of their cultures. The Egyptians also worshipped animals such as cats and dogs, of which the cat was the most respected animal. In the Meso-American society, the jaguar or puma was an animal that all people favored and revered as their spiritual leader. South Americans, too, prayed to the puma. There were also many great inventions brought about by people from these cultures. Egypt, being among one of the earliest civilizations and highly developed in scientific studies, developed the first written language known as hieroglyphs. Meso-America is a civilization famous for its mathematicians and astronomers and makers of accurate calendars. South America is known mostly for its art and jewelry and its discoverers of irrigation.

The differences among these cultures are plentiful. The Egyptians, unlike any other culture, were governed by pharaohs, who were thought to be divine beings, almost a god, sent down from the gods above. Olmecs, a branch of Meso-Americans, on the other hand, were ruled by kings and priests. The Chavin people of the South American society, in contrast, had a theocratic government in which the leaders of the government were also leaders of religion and rituals. South America was mostly a farming society, while Meso-America and Egypt focused a lot on education and military. In Egypt, boys went to school to learn trade; but in Meso-America, boys learned how to become priests.

All these cultures and civilizations made up an exclusive and exceptional part of the rich ancient world.