Comparing Three Early Civilizations

When analyzing early civilizations it is evident that they are connected by many similarities. During the time period of 600 BCE to 600 CE the Middle East, China and Africa all shared some of the same qualities. These three early civilizations made advancements that have shaped what we have grown into in our time period Religiously China and Africa were polytheistic, but the Middle East was monotheistic. China and Africa both believed in many gods. The Egyptians believed in life after death and worshiped gods of the sun, life and death, and the goddess of nature, these gods were all represented by small idols or statues. Similarly, China also believed in life after death and thought several gods controlled the forces of nature. The Persians, from the middle east, believed in a new faith, Zoroastrianism, which came from the Persian prophet Zarathustra. This religion taught the concepts of heaven and hell and they worshiped Ahura Mazda, meaning ¨wise lord.¨ Zoroastrianism’s teachings may have shaped Judaism and Christianity.
The overall social stratification was pretty similar to other empires of that region as well. Persia had a greater number of slaves, who were used as agricultural laborers and used to help build roads and improve the empire. Persian Society was patriarchal, but the women had many more rights than other civilizations, and they could own their own property and manage it and women could even keep their wages if they worked in shops. Unlike Persia, in China and Africa not everyone was educated, especially women. Most citizens of China worked at a skilled craft, such as pottery, jewelry, weapons, tools and wheels. The social hierarchy in Africa started with the royal families at the top of the pyramid, then nobles, priest, and farmer, artisans and slaves at the