Ancient Mesopotamian literature is more studied than ancient Egyptian literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest known work of literature and is still read by many people today.

Question

Answer

Con: Mesopotamian literature was written on clay tablets, while Egyptian literature was written on papyrus. Because papyrus is much more fragile than clay tablets, fewer Egyptian writings survived. Therefore, it is hard to make this comparison.

Answer

Pro: Mesopotamian literature is more diverse than ancient Egyptian literature. Ancient Egyptian literature is mostly religious, while Mesopotamian literature includes a wider variety of stories, wisdom, and history.

Which Bronze-Age civilization would be better to live in: Egypt or Mesopotamia?

Ancient Mesopotamian literature is more studied than ancient Egyptian literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest known work of literature and is still read by many people today.

Pros

Cons

Mesopotamian literature is more diverse than ancient Egyptian literature. Ancient Egyptian literature is mostly religious, while Mesopotamian literature includes a wider variety of stories, wisdom, and history.

Mesopotamian literature was written on clay tablets, while Egyptian literature was written on papyrus. Because papyrus is much more fragile than clay tablets, fewer Egyptian writings survived. Therefore, it is hard to make this comparison.

Selected claim, opposing its parent

Ancient Mesopotamian literature is more studied than ancient Egyptian literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest known work of literature and is still read by many people today.

Pro claim 1

Mesopotamian literature is more diverse than ancient Egyptian literature. Ancient Egyptian literature is mostly religious, while Mesopotamian literature includes a wider variety of stories, wisdom, and history.

Con claim 1

Mesopotamian literature was written on clay tablets, while Egyptian literature was written on papyrus. Because papyrus is much more fragile than clay tablets, fewer Egyptian writings survived. Therefore, it is hard to make this comparison.