Most important to early civilizations was the water supply. It is no accident that the great ancient "cradles" of civilization are centered on rivers or river valleys. The Sumerians were based along the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers and their tributaries. For centuries and even in modern times, Egyptians' lives have revolved around the Nile river. Roots of the Indian civilization were based on the Indus river and ancient Chinese centered their culture on the Yellow river.

Not only were rivers used for irrigating crops and daily water needs (washing, cooking, bathing), but societies also relied on the rivers for communication and transportation. Rivers were the major highways in these areas. In Mesopotamia, the rivers provided fish to eat and

The unpredictability of rainfall in the Mesopotamia area led to less permanent settlement than the predictable weather pattern in the Nile. The religious beliefs of the Sumerians demonstrated just how unpredictable their lives were. They considered natural disasters to be caused by Gods as punishment.

Though there were areas with mild climates that did not foster ancient civilizations, it is apparent that the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations thrived in the milder climates of the area. A harsher climate would not have supported an agricultural existence and would have required more hunting and gathering.

Climates and soils were also important to agriculture customs and needs of these societies. While the Egyptians arid climate and fertile Nile mud made crop-growing relatively easy, the Mesopotamians had to work harder for their harvest. The Sumerians also found it necessary to drain marshy areas before cultivating them.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Egyptian Sumerian, Navigation Nile, Roots Indian, Sumerians Sumerian, Tigris Euphrates, Mesopotamia Egypt, Barriers Natural, Resources Climates, Euphrates Tigris, ancient civilizations, natural barriers, , religious beliefs, natural resources,
Approximate Word count = 757
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)