Mesopotamia
consisted of a series of Empires, either Sumerian, Babylonian, or Chaldean, to name a few. Each
was ruled by an Emperor with a well defined class structure which separated the nobility from
the commoners. Among the more well known of the Mesopotamian Emperors was Hammurabi, who
promulgated his famous Code of Laws, and Nebuchadnezzar, who constructed the hanging Gardens of
Babylon. This system remained in place until the area was ultimately conquered by the Persians
under Cyrus the Achaenamid in 558 B.C.E.
Ancient Egypt was ruled by a king
known as the Pharaoh, meaning "Great House." He was considered theof the sun God,
Horus, and was believed to be responsible for the annual flooding of the Nile, from which
ancient Egypt gained it subsistence. Pharaoh ruled directly through an administrative
bureaucracy; there was no Egyptian nobility. Although some Pharaohs led troops into battle,
most were never seen by the public at large. They remained secluded from public view. It was
forbidden to even look on him, and to touch him unless he expressly requested it was punishable
by death. Pharaohs typically referred to their wives as their "dear sister." This has
led to some speculation that these marriages were incestuous, but there is no concrete
evidence.
The early society of India was the Harappan, or Dravidian. Because
their language has not yet been deciphered. As a result, there is no way of knowing their
political structure. It is known that they built several large cities with broad streets
organized on a grid with shops, public baths, and other amenities. All of this indicates a
highly organized and developed society; but other than that, nothing is known of their system of
government.
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