Though the African and Mediterranean people had distinct differences in their cultures, both contributed to human culture through the use of major water sources for the purpose of trade. The interaction with their trade partners resulted in the spread of technologies that created cultural shifts, and religious ideals, some of which influenced the development of the Hebrew monotheistic religion we know today as Judaism.
Unlike the Mesopotamians at the time whose cities were trading centers (Lockard 54), the Northern African and Mediterranean’s cities were mainly administrative centers (Lockard 54.) Their extensive and wide-range trade routes through the Mediterranean and Red Sea (Lockard 56) provided not only an elaborate system to exchange goods, but also to exchange culture. Diversity in the largely populated African and Mediterranean regions resulted in the development of urban life, which Craig A. Lockard states, “promoted cultural development…population growth, social organization, large state structures, and elaborate religious systems” (49.) …show more content…
The religious beliefs also traveled, specifically, the writings during the rule of the pharaoh Amenophis, who introduced the idea of monotheism to the Egyptians (Lockard 53). While the Egyptians didn’t take to the idea and went right back to Amon-Re worship after Amenophis’s death, there are “Hebrew psalms and proverbs that are clearly derived from Egyptians writings” (Lockard