Compare and Contrast essay

ANCIENT EGYPT AND ANCIENT GREECE

According to history there were two important ancient civilizations that stood out for their culture. Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece in spite of having been two civilizations so distant, there were some similarities as differences with some aspects of their development.

In their architecture both civilizations used resources as bricks, wood, and stones; they used different materials to develop a limited range of building types each one with a purpose that could be religious, military, or commemorative purposes. Both civilizations used the art like another symbolic form of their culture which has been a help in studying history.

While Egypt stood out for their famous pyramids; Greece is recognized for their monumental temples and elaborately planned cities and sanctuaries. In addition, Egypt used images, text, reliefs carved on walls, tombs, and even statues for glorifying the pharaoh. Hieroglyphs were used as their writing system. The Greek art was focused more on sculptures that today tell us story about the gods, heroes, mythical creatures and events in general.

In summary, both Ancient civilizations were remarkable besides their great devotion to their gods, their influential contribution to the eastern north civilization of Africa and the western civilization of Europe as well as the areas of philosophy, art and architecture, but in areas like math and science.

Family

To understand the everyday life of ancient Egyptians, archaeologists based on many sources like paintings and reliefs.

The nuclear family was the fundamental social unit of ancient Egypt. The father was responsible for the economic well-being of the family. Upper-class men often became scribes or priests, while lower-class men often were farmers, hunters, potters, or other craftsmen. The mother was dealing with the labors of the home and the education of the children.Upper-class women could become priestesses, and all women could become musicians or professional mourners.

Children stayed at home until they reached marriageable age (about twenty for males, younger for females). Although Egyptian children had toys but they occasionally play, much of their time was spent preparing for adulthood. For example, peasant children accompanied their parents into the fields; the male offspring of craftsmen often served as apprentices to their fathers. Many privileged children received formal education to become a scribe. Some promising youngsters were taught by priests in temples, and children of the nobility sometimes received private instruction from tutors or learned to be an officer in the army.

DRESS

The dress of the ancient Egyptians consisted not only of the clothes they wore but also of the elaborate costume jewelry that served to embellish everyday clothing. Colored or patterned cloth was rarely used.
Mens dress with a kilt that was a rectangular piece of linen wrapped around the body and tied at the waist, also worn was a short, wide cape covering the upper part of the body and hanging from the shoulders.

Women wore simple dresses falling from the breast to just above the ankle, and after they became more elegant.


Children participating in rigorous exercise frequently wore no clothes at all. Both boys and girls heads were usually shaved except for a long, braided sidelock.

Both men and women sometimes wore sandals made from papyrus, palm leaves, or leather fastened by leather thongs.


Both men and women wore jewelry such as earrings, bracelets, anklets, rings, and beaded necklaces. They incorporated into their jewelry many minerals including lapis lazuli, as well as copper, gold, and shells. Because the Egyptians were very superstitious, frequently their jewelry contained amulets.

Cosmetics were not only an important part of Egyptian dress but also a matter of personal hygiene and health. Eye paint, both green and black, is probably the most characteristic of the Egyptian cosmetics.




FOOD
The Egyptians staple food was bread. It was made from barley and emmer wheat, their most common crops. The main beverage of ancient Egypt was beer, but wine was also popular.


LEISURE ACTIVITIES

The ancient Egyptians filled their leisure time with many pleasant activities. They enjoyed good food, drink, music, singing, and dancing. The upper class watched professional dancers at formal banquets.
Other leisure activities included hunting, fowling, and fishing for sport.
The Egyptians enjoyed pets. The dog was the most common. Cats also became popular. The wealthy sometimes had monkeys.

Work

In ancient Egypt several classes of workers were established, both an upper and lower class. The upper class workers consisted of the scribes and priests. The lower class usually consisted of the merchants and farmers.


Farming and fishing

• Agriculture, created most of Egypt's wealth. Grain, vegetables, fruit, cattle, goats, pigs and fowl were grown, and fish from the Nile were caught and then all this were sold on the markets. Thanks to the yearly inundations the soil remained fertile. But agricultural techniques were not very efficient.
• Pisciculture, appears to have have existed on a very small scale. But practically all the fish consumed were caught in the Nile.
• Hunting, a leisure activity to the rich, but may have been crucial to the survival of the poorest.
  

Manufacture

This activity was realized in general in family who produced the raw materials. Labor was divided according to gender, with the processing generally left to the women. While the men were cultivating the linen and the women took charge sewing it.

Commerce and banking

Most of the produce was consumed by the producers themselves. Some of the wheat harvested and belonging to private owners was stored in state warehouses. So was much of the grain collected as taxes.

Warfare

They were awarded golden necklaces and bracelets for bravery in battle.

Slavery

Slaves were required to do the hardest tasks by force.

Ancient Egyptian Art

Egyptian art was an important part of their lives at this time. Art was either commissioned by kings or nobles for temples or tombs. They had wall paintings and statues of gods and kings in temples to serve for a spiritual purpose. Egyptians loved to be surrounded by beauty in life and in death. Egyptian art was for all intent and purposes for religious and funerary art. Colorful paintings and reliefs, which once decorated the walls of tombs of Pharaoh and the royal family, wealthy officials, courtiers, and nobles, ensured the survival of the deceased in the afterlife. Sculptures were make with an spiritual purpouse too due to the fact they believe in life after the death.