What Did Ancient Egypt Valued The Most Essay

The two things that I believe the Ancient Egyptians valued the most was the Nile River and the pyramids. The Nile river would flood every year, allowing the water to run into Egypt. This would cause “Black Land,” which just means the soil is good enough for the Egyptians to plant crops. The Nile river had provided the Egyptians with drinking water, gave them food, along with fertile ground to plant their crops. The Nile river gave the Egyptians safety. The Nile river had its own natural barriers, and there is desert on both west and east side. The southern part of the Nile river has rapids, making defense easy for the Egyptians. Making the Nile river a huge benefit to Egypt. (p. 14-16) The second item that the Egyptians valued would be the pyramids. The

pyramids are burial sites. The largest pyramids are meant for the King, smaller pyramids are meant for the King’s family, and mastabas were meant for the pharaoh’s noble officials. After a King would die, the Egyptians would practice an art called mummification, another thing the Egyptians valued.

They would mummify to preserve the Pharaoh’s body, and therefore the Pharaoh could have a safe journey to the Afterlife. The Pyramids would have the items that the Pharaoh found important, therefore jewels and art would be placed in the pyramids. The room where the tomb would lay, items would be placed there such as food, games, and other likings, to help the Pharaoh move safely to the Afterlife. (p. 19) The two things that I believe the Ancient Greeks valued the most was the military and Greek art. The new military system started with a new form called the phalanx formation. This was a rectangular formation that had tightly a group of hoplites. (p.54) Military was important to the Greeks because that was their way of protecting themselves from other countries. Sparta started their boys at the age of 7 in military school, then at 20 they were enrolled in the army, then at 30 they were allowed to vote, and they would stay in the army until 60. (p.56) Then by the time Persia fought Greece, Sparta helped Athens and they defeated Persia. (p.59) That also meant Sparta and Athens would fight with each

other. Athens had the Greek Navy, they were able to have men out in the sea that could help their battles. The military was important to the Greeks because they were able to control and they created fear in others. The second thing important to the Ancient Greeks was the arts. Art to the Greeks, represented harmony, proportion, and beauty. The architecture was important, because of the structures such as temples were dedicated to Gods and Goddess. To build such temple proportions had to be calculated. The book states that the Parthenon expressed reason, moderation, symmetry, balance, and harmony. Sculptures during this time would sculpt men, to show an ideal beauty. The art was important to the people because it gave a view of beauty, it represented harmony, and proportion was a key factor in all art. (p. 64-65)
The similarities between the two had been the Ancient Egyptians had used the Nile river for defense and the Ancient Greeks had the Navy which kept Greek safe by using water as well. Both had used a water method to keep their people safe. They both practiced the arts, the Ancient Egyptians mummified, used hierographic, created the pyramids, and had art they would put in the tombs. As the Ancients Greeks created temples and sculpted men. They have a similarity because one would create pyramids for their Pharaoh’s and the other would create temples for their God’s and Goddesses. They are different because they practiced art for different reasons. The Ancient Egyptians practiced art for their Pharaoh’s whereas Ancient Greeks, art was not just for the God’s and Goddesses.