Both Egyptians and Mesopotamians altered their environment by developing complex irrigation systems, but Egyptians focused on utilizing the Nile River for agriculture while Mesopotamians constructed canals to harness the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in order to create fertile lands for farming.
Both Egyptians and Mesopotamians utilized irrigation systems to harness water resources for agriculture, but while Egyptians relied on the annual flooding of the Nile River, Mesopotamians constructed canals and dikes to control the unpredictable flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as both civilizations sought to ensure food security and maximize agricultural output in their respective regions.
