Both the Egyptians and the Mesopotamians believed that their prosperity and well-being depended on the gods. The gods had created the universe, and all the forces of nature and the cosmos were theirs to command. Thus, it was only through their benevolence that crops grew, disease was kept at bay, and enemies were defeated. If the gods, for whatever reason, chose to withdraw their favor, catastrophe was sure to follow. The following two documents illustrate Egyptian and Mesopotamian beliefs about the power of the gods. As you read them, ask yourself what light they shed on Egyptian and Mesopotamian religion. What similarities do you note? What differences in Mesopotamian and Egyptian outlooks do they suggest?