Final answer:
The Egyptians preserved the dead by making them into mummies, a process called mummification. It was a complex ritual integral to their beliefs about the afterlife, unlike the Mesopotamians who had a more pessimistic view and did not mummify their dead.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ancient civilization known for preserving the dead by making them into mummies is the Egyptians.
This process is called mummification, which involved embalming the body and wrapping it in linens, and it was central to Egyptian belief in the afterlife.
The Egyptians' intricate mummification process ensured that the soul, represented by elements like the Ka and Ba, could continue to exist in the next world.
The organs were removed and placed in ornately decorated canopic jars, except for the heart, as it was believed to be the embodiment of the soul.
In contrast, the Mesopotamian view of the afterlife was bleak, with no evidence that they practiced mummification.