These civilizations also shared another similarity. These civilizations both built irrigation systems to carry out water from the rivers. Mesopotamia canalled the waters from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Egypt built irrational canals to control the waters from the Nile. 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 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.
This large population created a developing society that created their own methods for accounting, writing, record keeping, government and much other advancement that was unknown to the ancient world. The society had huge developments in anatomy and architecture that still influence society today. ("HowStuffWorks "The Nile's Impact on Ancient Egypt"", n.d., p. 1) The Nile River also served as the main source of transportation. This encouraged travel and enabled trade and communication with outlying areas. The process of diffusion of the Eqyptian religion between early human societies is still apparent today.
Both Mesopotamia and Egypt had important rivers that benefited them. In Mesopotamia, many civilians relied on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In Egypt, the population relied on the Nile. Although these rivers rose annually, they had different outcomes. While the Nile River was predictable and easier to deal with, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were unpredictable.
GKE1 World History Task 1 Part A: Mesopotamia: “Land between two rivers” The Tigris and Euphrates River System is the most significant physical geographic factor that contributed to the development of human society in Mesopotamia. Without the existence of this river system the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia would not have formed in this region nor would their innovations or crafts. The Tigris and Euphrates River System delivered the life sustaining resources that were necessary in sustaining human habitation, which eventually developed into some of the first government run societies in human history. Considered the birthplace of civilization, Mesopotamia is a Greek name that means “land between two rivers” (Orlin, 2010, p.145). Mesopotamia is a fertile flat plain that was created by rich deposits of mud and clay that the two rivers carried from highlands and mountains that today make up the eastern side of Turkey, which lay to the north of what was Mesopotamia and is currently Iraq.
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. As more and more people settled in the region, urbanization and surplus occurred. No longer was the society farming to solely support itself, but it was able to export and interact with surrounding societies. The rivers provided the necessary elements for abundant agricultural growth which in turn allowed for the society to grow beyond focusing on basic needs for survival and develop to create political structure and develop artistically. (Kreis,
A.B. September 21, 2010 Irrigation in the Ancient Worlds. The ancient world was a time of invention. One of the major technological inventions was the irrigation system--the digging of canals for better access to water sources. Irrigation had many uses, such as trade routs and the transfer of silt-bearing water for agriculture.
One of the major geographical factors that helped with the expansion of the United States was the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River allowed for communication between the north and south. The Mississippi was also used for both transportation and trading. It also sped up the amount of time used for finding settlements after the Louisiana Purchase. An important second factor that influenced the development of the United States are the Rocky Mountains.
It is debatable of if it was the first. The Indus Valley was well known for their highly sophisticated wells and water storage systems in the ancient world. They also developed a system of weights and trade, wonderful types of pottery and jewelry. Traders would use The Indus River to do their trading because boat by river was an easy way to travel with a large amount of goods. By In the Indus River Valley, the largest cities of the area were located directly next to the Indus River (Martin).
These technologies included new farming implements and methods, Railroads, steam engines, and the telegraph, to name a few. This was the beginning of what would come to be known as the Industrial Revolution. There are several reasons why the Industrial Revolution Began in England. Britain had many resources, including timber and steel and iron ore. It also had a stable government, which allowed for the people to begin industrializing in the first place, harbors for trade, a very large population resulting in a very large workforce, and many water ways throughout the country to transport materials and products as well as to use for water power at mills.