Although Mesopotamia was a specific region, which prospered, it had many city-states, which were self-governing and encountered many tribulations, making Mesopotamia less centralized. Egypt, however, emphasized strong central authority, as bureaucrats monitored land and imposed taxes in order to support construction and the military. Like Mesopotamia, Egypt also represented the king as a god sent to earth in order to maintain the goods of civilization. Mesopotamia considered merchants within their society essentially essential to trade widely with foreign regions. On the other hand, Egypt's foreign policy was essentially isolationist; therefore, they identified all foreigners as enemies, but they still valued foreign resources. Both Egypt and Mesopotamia had resources that they traded extensively, namely bronze and papyrus, as these were in high demand in foreign countries. Additionally, the Mesopotamians viewed their gods negatively based on the obstacles they encountered due to their environment, as they believed their gods were associated with the forces of nature. Despite this, Egypt also believed that its gods were associated with the forces of nature. However, the attitude towards their gods was positive because their environment was reliable. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers of Mesopotamia caused frequent floods and droughts, while the Nile regularly inundated Egypt's crops. Nonetheless, the Mesopotamians and Egyptians placed high value on their religious practices and beliefs, which were reflected in their art and architecture. Thus, although the Mesopotamians and Egyptians settled during the River Valley Civilizations period, they both have distinct aspects, as well as some