Rise Of Ancient Civilizations

Three major civilizations rose in the Middle East. All of them had similar locations, religions, social structures, and government. The three locations for these great civilizations were Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Indus River Valley. They all had a similar rise and a decline. For starters; the location for these civilizations are extremely important in creating an effective civilization. For example, Mesopotamia, was located between two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates which gave the cities clean water, fertile soil, and trade routes. The concept of building around a river is very similar to Egypt, which was located around the Nile, and Indus River valley, which was near the Indus River and the Ghaggar-Hakra River. Most of these civilizations
Location could also serve as a natural barrier, like the Himalayas protecting India or the desert surrounding Egypt, which made it hard for invaders to attack them. The rivers were also a good source of food. You could fish for fish and hunt the predators that came to eat the fish. Mesopotamia was located on a flood plain which made the soil very fertile which led to a surplus in farming and because of the extra farming, not everyone had to farm and hunt just to survive, people could now focus on other things like pottery, creating a written language, developing socially, politically, and economically, and creating an effective, productive civilization. The river would also be used to trade and barter. The government controlled the trading, but the amount of trading each civilization did was amazing. Both the Mesopotamian and Indus River valley societies relied heavily on trade because it was an easy way to gain rare materials in exchange for materials that they have an abundance of. Their entire community seemed to revolve around trade.We know today that the Indus River valley people traded with Mesopotamia because they have found seals, that were made by the Indus people in
There were also irrigation problems. The techniques that made farming possible, also led to its decline. After irrigation water sits in one place for a long time, it leaves behind mineral salts which erodes the group for farming. The Egyptians decline was because of the Persians, Hyksos, Greek, and Roman invasions. The Indus river valley was also due to invasion and attack. To create an empire, you need a good location, and a solid government. But to maintain it, you need a strong army, because in all of the civilizations, an invading army conquered them, but if you are completely military based, you would would have too many people dying, and not enough reproduction. It is a very fine balance between military, and trading and being