early civilization questions?

Question

im stuck on the following problems,plz help me out!!!
1)Egyptian pharaohs of the Old Kingdom exercised unusual authority over their subjects because:
the correct answer is : they inherited their position in the dynastic order through their mother's family
i wonder if that period was still a matriarchate. i dont think so cuz most pharaohs are male.
i rather prefer this answer: they were worshipped as gods who ruled the society through an extensive theocracy
2)what was a common physical characteristic of all the earliest civilizations?
A)rivers that could provide water for agriculture
B)rainfall that encouraged the production of grain crops
C)a steady supply of alluvial soil
D)rivers that could be navigated easily
E)geographic barriers that provided protection from invasion
A.C.D look same,but why the correct answer is A?

3)The major principle expressed in the segment of Hammurabi's Code was that:
the correct answer is :the code ensured that the punishment fit crime
I disagree.
The code was totally an unfair one for the upper social class the less punishment so how can you say it FIT crime??
i chose the answer "laws are written in an organized code to estabish a standard of behavior for all" i think it's much better

So...I need your opinions :)

Answer 1

As Einstein said, it all relative. With the Code of Hammurabi, THEY felt the punishment fit the crime. You're reading it with a 21st century point of view. What may seem cruel or unfair to us, seemed perfectly all right with them.
Any time you try an interpret ancient codes or laws without fully realizing the times and conditions they were written, they will sound odd.

Answer 2

Egypt was not uncommon in having this matriacal inheretance set up. The Celts saw the woman as the head of the household. Still do in Britainy.

The pharaoh ultimately got his position because the was the ofspring of a god. Becuase it takes two to tango, the female represents the mortal half of the equation, whereas the sun god gets to be dad. Now if you get your devine rule granted because your mum slept with a god. Dad is just the king and father by proxy only.

The pharoeh was also linked with the fertility of the land. The old - The land and the king are one belief. By using his god given powers, once per year, the pharoah would *** into the nile, thus ensuring that the nile would flood and deposit rich soil throughout the coming year.

The second question looks at early civilizations. The thing that set them apart from hunter gatherers was crops, or more specifically crop serpluses that allowed for specialized professions to develop. Many cities needed water suplies, but irrigation and/or flooding (See above) enabled crops to grow and since the cities tended to be admin centres and markets fro the crops......
Bit of a ramble but hope it helps/

Luck

Answer 3

1]they worshipped d sacred feminine. goddess etc... so they had male heirs but they also had v powerful female influence in government n dynasty.
2]rivers haf n alwiz been d main source. it never changed cuz when i took my degree too,d main pts alwiz include rivers...so thr,rest is sub 2 d main pts.