1. Unit 2 Comparison Essay Debrief Prompt: For the period 3000BCE to 1500BCE, compare the relationship beteen the physical environment and the development of complex political structures in TWO of the following: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley

2. A) Thesis/Claim
1 Point
Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning.

3. Sample Thesis Statements
“There were many similarities and differences between Mesopotamia and Egypt when it comes to complex political structures and the physical environment.”
“Mesopotamia and Egypt were similar in their
complex political structures, but differed in their
physical environments.”
“Mesopotamia and Egypt had similar religious practices due to their similar river valley environments, but had important differences when it comes to political systems.”

4. Sample Thesis Statements
“Both Egypt and Mesopotamia developed similar trade-based economies due to their river valley environments, but Mesopotamia was more politically unstable due to its lack of natural barriers.”
“Though Egypt was more politically stable than Mesopotamia
due to its friendlier environment, both civilizations needed to
develop centralized governments to manipulate and control
their natural surroundings.”
F) “Both Egypt and Mesopotamia developed complex political
structures to manage extensive irrigation projects and control
flooding. However, Egypt maintained a long-lasting united
kingdom due to its natural defenses, whereas the rise and fall
of city-states and empires in Mesopotamia was much more
common due to a lack of such defenses.”

5. B) Contextualization 1 point:
Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt

6. Contextualization Samples
Settled civilizations would have been impossible without agriculture.
When agriculture began, civilizations followed soon afterward. Two of these civilizations were Egypt and Mesopotamia.

7. D) Around 8000BCE, agriculture arose in the Middle East
D) Around 8000BCE, agriculture arose in the Middle East. This led to the establishment of permanent settlements. Over time, some of these settlements evolved into the first civilizations. E) “Throughout the Paleolithic, bands of hunter-gathers migrated throughout the world in search of wild plant and animal foods. With the Neolithic Revolution around 8K BCE, plants and animals were domesticated, allowing for the establishment of sedentary communities. By 3K BCE in several parts of the world, some of these agricultural communities developed into the first civilizations. Two of these were Egypt and Mesopotamia.”

8. C) Evidence
1 Point
Provides specific examples of evidence relevant to the topic of the prompt.
2 Points
Supports an argument in response to the prompt using specific and relevant examples of evidence.

9. Examples
Sahara Flood Plain Lugal Sumerians Mahenjo-Daro Bricks Babylon City-states Ur Pharaoh Hammurabi Irrigation Canals Tigris-Euphrates Nile

10. Egypt and Mesopotamia: Similarities/Differences in Complex Governmental Structures related to Physical Environment
Egypt-politically stable due to protective barriers like the Sahara Desert.
Mesopotamia-politically unstable due to invasions, lack of natural barriers.
Both developed complex political systems to manage irrigation projects and control flooding.
Egypt more centralized due to narrow Nile River Valley.
Mesopotamian city-states decentralized due to expansive flood plain environment.
Because people believed gods controlled the natural environment in both regions, rulers could claim divine authority and establish centralized govt’s based on this principle.