Final answer:
The ancient Egyptians practiced mummification and constructed elaborate tombs to ensure a vivid afterlife, which is in contrast to the Sumerians' view of death. Mummification involved embalming and wrapping the body to protect the spiritual elements like the ka within the tombs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ancient Egyptians believed in a vivid life after death and went to great lengths to ensure their continued existence in the afterlife. Unlike the Sumerians, with their bleak perception of the underworld, the Egyptians practiced mummification, a meticulous process that involved embalming the body and wrapping it in linen, so that it could serve as a home for the ka, one of the spiritual elements believed to be important after death. Furthermore, they built elaborate tombs, such as the iconic pyramids, which acted as physical structures to protect the mummified body and allowed the ka to remain with it, receiving nourishment from offerings placed therein. Consequently, the correct answer to the question is a) Mummification and an elaborate tomb protected the body and ensured their afterlife.