While the Nile River was predictable and easier to deal with, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were unpredictable. This meant that the Mesopotamians did not have a constant supply of crops due to the crops that were ruined by the rivers. On the other hand, the Egyptians had no trouble and their agriculture was rich. Therefore, the Mesopotamians were envious of the Egyptians and their environment. Although both civilizations had agriculture, they had different produces.
They traded with other cultures because of simple human need and desire for things they lack and cannot provide in their homelands. An example of the agriculture that went on in Mesopotamia is their complex irrigation systems (which controlled the flooding to the crops) and China’s agricultural endeavors included creating the wheelbarrow (which allowed heavier and greater loads to be transported great distances). Another similarity between Mesopotamia and China, economically, is that they both create a staple to base their societies’ agricultures off of. This occurred because each civilization had their own appropriate agricultural geographies. In Mesopotamia, wheat was the primary staple food and in China it was rice.
This occurred because of its geographical location, pitted in between Europe and Asia, who both had large economies based on trade. As Islam spread it drew more people into South Asia. With the influx of people, South Asia remained a center of trade in the world market. In 1750, South Asia’s economy was based on trade. This is important because it supported agricultural growth in the region.
Without this river the people back then would not have been able to build societies. The nile river provided a water supply in the middle of a desert. The water supply helped the people produce food. The production of food lead to a great increase in the population. The great increase of the population lead to the building of pyramids.
One significant geographical factor that contributed to the development of the early human society of Egypt is the Nile River. Ancient Egypt could not have existed without this body of water. Egypt is located in a desert with sand and high temperatures that requires resourceful use of water to survive. The Nile enabled agriculture and other foundations that the civilization was built upon. Not only did the river supply the needed moisture to the crops, but the banks of the river contain fertile soils that were necessary for the thriving food source.
This was a similarity between Egypt and Mesopotamia because during this time period people relied on water for many things such as drinking, bathing and most importantly for keeping their land fertile. They relied on this fertile land to grow their own food. Not everyone had easy access to the river. Therefore these civilizations build irrigational systems to carry out water for everyone to access it. Despite these similarities, Egypt had greater differences with Mesopotamia.
The development of Mesopotamia, whose names translates to “land between the rivers,” was a direct consequence of the Tigris and Euphrates and the impact they caused on the region. (Kreis, 2006) These rivers frequently flooded the region. Due to this flooding, soil composition was greatly impacted. The land between the rivers, called the alluvial plain, was highly fertile and full of life because of the rich soil composition. The people present in the region started to transition from their nomadic lifestyles to agricultural lifestyles because of the surety and safety the rivers gave in providing farmable land to produce ample food.
For instance, ancient civilizations that solely depended on irrigation canals and ditches often suffered food shortages and famine when the river levels dropped, or when the water systems could not be properly maintained. In addition, irrigation canals filled with water often became breeding grounds for insects carrying diseases, such as mosquitoes. On the contrary, there were also positive effects from technological developments that resulted from the need of a steady water supply. Advancements in irrigation technology made it much easier for farmers to water their crops, and in ancient Rome, the massive aqueducts that were crafted brought water to thousands of Roman citizens, even to those who didn’t live directly next to a stream or river. Secondly, the need for steady water supplies had a great deal of impact on the economies of ancient civilizations.
They flowed into the Persian Gulf with large amounts of fertile silt and soil deposits. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers had a positive impact on the history and culture of Mesopotamia. They also helped the early settlers, like the Sumerians, plant crops with their fertile soil and silt deposits. The river was also used as a large transportation route. The route was used for trade, and travel.
What was the significance of the need for irrigation to the political development of Mesopotamia? since Mesopotamia receives very little rainfall then irrigation was necessary to bring water to their crops. the irrigation increased food supplies that led to a rapid increase of human population and attracted migrants from other regions. 3. What were the underlying principles of Hammurabi's code of laws and what does the law code tell us about the kind of society that existed in Mesopotamia at the time?