lower class. The Egyptians opportunity for advancement is similar to that of the lower class Sumerians who were given the power to borrow and trade. "Most probably, as was the case with the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians . . . enjoyed a long period of mostly peaceful relations during which each learned from the other." Much like the Sumerians, the Egyptians practiced polytheism and believed that the gods were in some way like humans. Every aspect of nature had a god related to it, such as the powerful Osiris, who was responsible for the life cycle of all living creatures. The Egyptians strongly believed in life after death and lived with a devotion of time and wealth to enhance their experience in the next world. They developed a system of numbers and mathematics that assisted the artisans in creating great pyramids, which served as a reminder of their belief in the afterlife. Pyramids were used as monuments to house the tombs of deceased pharoahs. The form of these structures was similar to the shrines of Sumeria; however, their emphasis differed. Pyramids housed a tomb that could be found through inner passageways, while the Sumerian structures raised a shrine in the sky that could only be reached by an outer staircase.Among the Egyptians other advancements was their strong understanding of human anatomy that they used in the embalming process. These medical skills enabled Egyptian practitioners to deal with disease not only on a physical level, but spiritually as well. "Like the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians acquired 'necessary' technology without developing a truly scientific method." To convey knowledge and information, the Egyptians used a form of writing known as Hieroglyphics, or picture writing which portrayed the actual object it represented. As time progressed, the use of pictures to portray ideas, much like the Sumerians did, became more prevalent. Known as ideograms, this way of writing could represent complete t...
