Final answer:
Both Egyptian and Sumerian societies were patriarchal; however, Egyptian women enjoyed greater legal rights and social positions, with some becoming significant rulers. The social and political structures of the two societies varied greatly due to different religious practices and geographic influences on their developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both Egyptian and Sumerian societies were patriarchal. However, women in the upper classes of Egyptian society had greater responsibilities and social standing than in many other ancient civilizations. Egyptian women held legal rights such as property ownership and could take legal action independently, which were rights not seen in the Western world until thousands of years later. Additionally, there were several significant female rulers and consorts in Egyptian history. In contrast, Sumerian society was polytheistic with several independent city-states, each with their own patron deity represented by the ruling figures, often the Sumerian kings, and religious practices deeply intertwined with governance.
Mesopotamia, unlike Egypt, was comprised of multiple civilizations including the Sumerians, and it did not unify under a single state until much later. In the Early Dynasty Period of Egypt, centralized control and bureaucratic systems were established that differed from the temple or palace-controlled economies of the Sumerian city-states. The relatively isolated and protected geography of Egypt contributed to its early unification and distinct development.