A. Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is known as the land between the rivers. The great rivers the Tigris and the Euphrates flow through the otherwise dry vast plains of Mesopotamia. The rivers start in the mountains emptying into the sea. The dry fertile soil of Mesopotamia is difficult to grown crops. But close to the rivers the land was fertile. The fertile soil comes down the rivers from the mountains and would collect when the rivers flood, creating the most fertile farmland in the world. This fertile land near the rivers created the rise of the earliest civilization in history. With the land irrigated by the rivers farming became extremely productive, large farming populations grew along the rivers with the increase in food productions societies formed and created the first civilization in world history. ("Ancient," n.d.)

B. Tea
A significant example of diffusion between early human societies can be seen in the popularity of tea around the world. As per Chinese legend tea was first discovered in 2737 B.C.. Sometime around the 9th century tea was first used in Japan. Japanese monks studying in China brought it back with them when they returned to Japan. Tea drinking and ceremonies have become an important part of the Japanese culture. The Dutch were the first to import tea back to Europe. In the 16th century tea was shipped from China to Holland it was expensive and seen as a drink for the wealthy. Tea was fashionable in Holland and started to spread to other countries in Europe. In the 19th century the tea trade was dominated by the British and Dutch when they introduced tea to India and North America. (“Tea,”n.d.)

C.1. The Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson believed that westward expansion was vital to the nation’s growth and strength. This was not possible without access to the Mississippi River through New Orleans. France had gained