...Ginger Williams GKE Task 1 Geography plays a very vital role in the development of the early human societies. The development occurred as people of different regions interacted with others and shared as well as extended their acquired knowledge. This led to primitive people establishing and populating the regions. Physical geography and the culture of the people of Mesopotamia shaped the society of the day (Maisels, 1999). Just as Mesopotamia, the same physical geography is seen to have contributed to the development of United States through the process of diffusion of people and their ideas. Mesopotamia, is the birthplace to early civilisation and early agriculture, and this is attributed to its critical geographical features, which included rivers and fertile flat lands. The easy accessibility of water from the rivers Tigris and Euphrates provided the people with the knowledge to bring in more dependable food sources. These two rivers run almost parallel to each other, and together the rivers formed the greatest agriculturally productive alluvial plain. It is on these alluvial plains that the initial crop plantations were experimented. After this was successful, the people started coming up with other means of tapping the water and expanding the land under irrigation. The region was also filled with lots of plants that were easy to domesticate (Maisels, 1999). Therefore, the culture of the people was influenced by the physical geography, and this contributed to the development...
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...one event influences a chain of one or more events to occur. This is similar to the impact regional geography made on the development of a civilization. In other words, regional geography created a domino effect of the development of various civilizations. For example, the development of the Mesopotamian Civilization was majorly impact by the regional geography. It is important to note that Mesopotamia is known as the birthplace of civilization. Historians believe that between 4,000 B.C.E. and 3,000...
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...The Civilizations and Cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt Mesopotamia has been called the first civilization, forming around 2500 BC, but there was also another civilization being formed around the same time; the Egyptian civilization was formed by 3000 BC along the Nile River. Both civilizations were strongly influenced by geography, natural resources, and social class. The development of two great early civilizations were guided by the geography, natural resources, and social classes but these broad categories branched off in different directions for each civilization. Geography had a large impact on the successful development of these two civilizations. Both largely depended on nearby rivers for their success and were called the river civilizations. Mesopotamia translates to “land between rivers” which is exactly what it was. It was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These rivers provided for the Sumerians to develop an extensive irrigation system. They were also able to use the flooding of the rivers to their benefit, and all of these developments lead to them having things to trade which they also used the rivers to do. Goods were able to move from place to place along the river along with ideas. Similarly, the Egyptian civilization was strongly dependent on their river, the Nile, and they would have not made nearly as much advancement without it. When the Nile flooded it helped farming and agriculture by providing silt, helping the soil. Their irrigation...
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...Geography and the Development/Diffusion of Human Society Veronica Morales Western Governor’s University Geography and environment plays a significant role in the development of early societies. The development of the early societies occurred as people from different regions interacted with one another as they shared and extend acquired knowledge. As a result, primitive people began to establish and populate regions of the ancient world forming structures of the early society. As societies expand, they form into civilization with sophisticated form of communications and development of technologies. Physical geography as well as natural resources can shape the cultures and societies around us. We know that early societies have adapted their ways of life for survival. The success or failure of the society can lead to expansion or downfall of a civilization. Environmental and geographic factors are known to contribute in the development of early civilizations such as Mesopotamia as well as the development of the United States through the process of diffusion from people and ideas over time. In the early civilizations, the presence of water symbolized life. Mesopotamia was the birth of early civilization due to its significant geographical characteristics, the rivers. The accessibility to water source from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers provided the early civilization with the knowledge to bring forth dependable food source. Mesopotamia was located in between two rivers...
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...How Geography Effected Ancient Cultures Mesopotamia and Egypt in the ancient world were in modern day Iraq, and Egypt is still there today. Culture in theses societies, was loosely based on their natural surroundings. While geography in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt differed in stability and protection, they were similar in farming opportunities, with comparable sources of water giving them both the chance to excel in agriculture. The river flooding in Mesopotamia and Egypt differed in predictability; while rivers in Mesopotamia were sporadic in flood patterns, the Nile in Egypt was very predictable in its flooding. This caused the two civilizations to have opposing ideas of the power of their gods. In ancient Mesopotamia, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were incredibly unpredictable, and when they flooded they caused frenzies in surrounding areas. This unpredictability was reflected in their religion, as they felt the flooding of the rivers was a punishment for something they did. In thinking they could never please the gods, the people of Mesopotamia believed one only had the underworld to look forward to after death. They viewed nature as something out to get them. This belief led to more selfishness in people, and as a result, people were generally less trusting. However, in Egypt, the Nile River and its yearly predictable flooding led to the creation of calendars to plan agriculture around flooding; therefore, the flooding would help, not hurt them. The predictability...
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...The Nile River had a more positive affect on Egyptian Civilization than the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, as the floods in the Nile River were more predictable than the Tigris and Euphrates. Geography is the study of Earth; it’s landforms, features and inhabitants. It is important as it includes the study of our planet and what happens in nature, it studies people, helps with navigation, includes study of natural resources and let’s us appreciate life. Unfortunately, The Tigris and Euphrates River set a negative view of the afterlife for Mesopotamia, as they couldn’t foresee the floods that were going to happen. Thus, the people of Mesopotamia believed that the Gods were displeased or rather frustrated with them. This led them to believe that the afterlife was absolute misery. The rivers were used as a water supple and to irrigate crops, but also important for transportation and trade. Because of these rivers, Mesopotamia was a crossroads of the ancient world for trade between China, Egypt and India. As the Mesopotamians thought that their gods were furious at them, they built statues of them prayigg in hopes of them to please their gods....
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...Geography has always been crucial in the development of civilizations. From the dawn of civilization to before 600 A. D, it has shaped the course of advancement. Rivers, mountains, valleys, and cataracts influenced human evolution in various ways. Geography played an important part in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India. It still does today. Humans have developed technology because of geographical barriers. In Mesopotamia, people settled in the fertile crescent for farming. They used the silt from the crescent for their agriculture. India has a diverse geography. This diversity supports various lifestyles and cultures. In Egypt, they called the Nile river, “The gift of the Nile”, which shows how critical the Nile was to the civilization. The geography of...
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...1 Geography and the Development and Diffusion of Human Societies GKE TASK 1 Michelle Murray Western Governors University GKE Task1 2 A. The two rivers, Tigris and Euphrates are substantial examples of geographical and environmental factors that impacted the development of the Mesopotamia civilization. Mesopotamia- “known as the land between two rivers”. (Hollar,2011). Details Tigris river is 1180 miles long deeper but shorter than the Euphrates river. The Euphrates River is 1700 miles long and not as deep only flat boats can ride along this river. (Hollar,2011). I believe both rivers contributed to the Mesopotamia civilization and were significant geographical and environmental factors. The two rivers were a point of focus from the beginning. They provided rich soil perfect for agriculture, deposits of mud and clay to build their community, mode of transportation and water for irrigation for crops. The use of these valleys’ soil and water were signs of innovation and exchange. The Mesopotamians made the Fertile Crescent fertile with their irrigation technology. (Keita,n.d) They had to create an irrigation system so they could better operate the river’s water. Along with the fertile soil, proper irrigation and organized labor they reaped the benefits of the land. They were able to grow a surplus of food not only for the community...
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...Geographic and environmental factors have a momentous impact on the development of trade and migration systems. Those systems and migration patterns lead to correlations among diverse people and their cultures. Therefore, geography and resources have an influence on the growth and relations between societies. Two of the most significant geographical and environmental factors that have led to the development and expansion of the United States is the growth of industry after the Civil War, and the abundance of agriculture. After the Civil War, the population in the United Sates more than doubled and industrial growth was also rapid because of the large quantity of natural resources. The United States had enormous assets such as coal, copper, petroleum, iron, water power and timber. Due to this immense supply of natural resources, many immigrants came to the States for work and many rural workers traveled many miles to flourish as well. There were many jobs like coal mining, constructing railroads, and silver and gold mining that promised wealth, like in the California Gold Rush. When gold was discovered in 1849 in California, people came from all over the world and with such an influx of people and the following development, California became an official state in 1850. Gold wasn’t the only abundant resource in the U.S. With the production of coal and other minerals, exporting to other countries was in high demand and expanded the trade industry for...
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...Running head: GEOGRAPHY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFUSION OF Geography and the Development and Diffusion of Human Societies GKE1- Western Governors University Geography and the Development and Diffusion of Human Societies Evaluating and researching how environmental and geographical factors, such as the availability of resources and location of land have affected and continue to affect the human race through development, distribution, and diffusion is not only intriguing but complex as well. The ancient site of Mesopotamia, appears to have been the first look at the world’s civilization. Mesopotamia; is Greek for between two rivers. This actually created a significant physical geographical factor that contributed to the Mesopotamian people, the land being fertile, and the beginning of civilization and urbanization. Mesopotamia was flat land that was situated between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. The land was rich in nutrients and clay that allowed for the Mesopotamian people to plant crops, build shelters to live in and store their harvested crops, also allowed for the benefits of domestication of animals. Even through all of the development of their lands it was not without transgression, they did have to overcome many environmental issues: floods, droughts, storms, dust, heat, disease and even death. The Mesopotamian people held strong and allowed them to overcome and prosper (Mark, 2009) (Guisepi, 1998) (Historical TV, 2013). With...
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...Task 1: Geography and the Development/Diffusion of Human Societies Part A: Mesopotamia is regarded as the birth place of civilization. “Historians believe that large civilizations began in Mesopotamia between 4,000 and 3,000 B.C.E.” (Wandrei, 2015). The most significant geographical factor that I feel contributed to the development of this society was the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These rivers are part of a larger area referred to as the “fertile crescent” due to its rich soil. The soil is extremely rich due to the large amount of silt (a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks) deposits left from the rivers during flooding, making ideal farming areas. Although the area was ideal for farming it was still extremely difficult to do due to this regions climate that usually only produced ten inches or less of rain. So with the drought and still occasional flooding, the Mesopotamian society had to learn how to control these factors to be able to succeed in this region. They had to build an irrigation system to help protect their homes from the floods and move water to their fields during the droughts. With this irrigation system it allowed for them to have a surplus in crop. Also, having access to the rivers allowed for them to trade some of their surplus crops to obtain other needed supplies to help continue building their society. “With irrigation and the necessary drainage, southern Mesopotamia became a land of plenty that could support a considerable population” (Edzard...
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...13.) Mesopotamia appeared around 3500 B.C.E. and is one of the first civilizations. Another is Egypt appearing around 3500 B.C.E. Norte Chico was also one of the first civilizations appearing around 3500 B.C.E. These civilizations all had advancements in technology. These also had agriculture, which helped them grow in the first place. 14.) Cities were important because they made technological advancements. With such a high concentration of people someone is bound to find something new out. Cities were also good for spreading ideas and trade. 15.) When a ruler was established and the money was piling up they decided it should be split up. The higher up you were the more money you would get. This is where it all began. Also, gender inequality has been around forever. Women generally stayed at home while the men did the work, but soon women became a sort of property to men and women relied upon them. 16.) Gender inequality was a problem in early civilizations. Men were seen as more powerful than women. Women were seen as property and men were allowed to have...
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...Gke Task 1 Geographic and environmental factors have a momentous impact on the development of trade and migration systems. Those systems and migration patterns lead to correlations among diverse people and their cultures. Therefore, geography and resources have an influence on the growth and relations between societies. Two of the most significant geographical and environmental factors that have led to the development and expansion of the United States is the growth of industry after the Civil War, and the abundance of agriculture. After the Civil War, the population in the United Sates more than doubled and industrial growth was also rapid because of the large quantity of natural resources. The United States had enormous assets such as coal, copper, petroleum, iron, water power and timber. Due to this immense supply of natural resources, many immigrants came to the States for work and many rural workers traveled many miles to flourish as well. There were many jobs like coal mining, constructing railroads, and silver and gold mining that promised wealth, like in the California Gold Rush. When gold was discovered in 1849 in California, people came from all over the world and with such an influx of people and the following development, California became an official state in 1850. Gold wasn’t the only abundant resource in the U.S. With the production of coal and other minerals, exporting to other countries was in high demand and expanded...
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...ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia was the political organization in both civilizations. The tyrannical presence of ancient Egypt’s godly Pharaohs and the justified structure of Hammurabi’s code in ancient Mesopotamia were the distinct political differences. Political organization affected the ancient economy, that then affected social order, which in turn affected the kinds of religions practiced, which played a huge role in the development of these ancient societies. Egyptian Pharaohs took advantage of the geography surrounding them, and found the Nile River Valley to be rich in precious metals, including gold, copper, and iron. A large number of men took a chance and left their homes to go out and mine for these precious metals. While in Mesopotamia, Hammurabi established many laws which allowed for the stabilization of the economy. These laws established legitimate trade and commerce for the sharing and distributing of agriculture grown in the area. In both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia their economies flourished with trade, this is because in order to establish a...
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...Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers, and also was one of the first civilizations for humans. The two most important words in the statement above are land and rivers, because that allowed the humans to settle, and it gave them all the resources they needed. The Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, were the reason why people settled. The rivers provided people with fresh water, transportation, it started trade between the different civilizations, and when the rivers would flood, all the water would moisten the soil and relieve the area from the arid climate. The land was the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent took up most of Mesopotamia, and most people settled on it because of the two rivers. The land was settled upon because of the climate,...
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