RIVERSINTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT

CIVILISATIONSBY DELISA NG

TAO NAN SCHOOL

Rivers & Civilisations Worksheet

Civilisation River / Rivers How did the river(s) benefit the civilisation?

SumerianTigris and Euphrates

• The rivers provided a steady supply of water.

• This made the land fertile and allowed many people to settle there.

Rivers & Civilisations Worksheet

Civilisation River / Rivers

How did the river(s) benefit the civilisation?

Egyptian Nile

• The Nile created fertile land for agriculture.

• It was an important means of transport.• Mud from its banks was used to make

bricks for houses and walls. Papyrus plants were used to make sails, mats, baskets, sandals and papyrus sheets (paper)

Rivers & Civilisations Worksheet

Civilisation

River / Rivers

How did the river(s) benefit the civilisation?

Roman Tiber• The river provided fertile land,

water and transport

Rivers & Civilisations Worksheet

Civilisation

River / Rivers

How did the river(s) benefit the civilisation?

Chinese

Yellow River (Huang He)

andYangtze River

• The rivers provided fertile land, which was suitable for millet and rice.

Rivers & Civilisations Worksheet

Civilisation

River / Rivers

How did the river(s) benefit the civilisation?

IndianIndus and Ganges Rivers

• The rivers provided fertile land for barley and wheat.

What do you notice about the location of major cities in these civilisations? Maps of Sumer (pg.59) and Egypt (pg. 68)

Their cities were built along / near to rivers.

This is why rivers were important means of transportation.

WHICH CIVILISATION IS THE EXCEPTION?

Ancient GREECE did not develop around any major river.

Did You Know?There are many small rivers in Greece, but they are mostly too shallow and turbulent to provide transport.

How did its people adapt to their environment?

For food, they planted crops which did not need much land and could grow well in dry conditions. They also obtained fish from the sea. For transport, they relied on the sea and built their cities close to it.

Can we assume that ALL civilisations developed around rivers?

• No, we cannot assume that all civilisations developed around rivers.

• Ancient Greece developed around the sea, which provided food and transport for them.

 • However, the rest of the civilisations did

develop around a large river. • This tells me that rivers are still very

important for the growth of civilisations as they provide food, water, transport and useful materials.

Mind Map Activity

Get into 3 Interest Groups• #1 Natural

features of the earth

• #2 Man’s interaction with the Environment

• #3 Stories and poems

#1 (Natural features) Expand on the mind-map spokes “Creates landscape features” and “Flows downhill from mountains into a…”  #2 (Man’s interaction with the Environment) Work on “Usefulness to humans”

#3 (Stories and poems) Work on “Associated with”

Sharing Time

Completed Mind Map

Ganges River

Relationship between Ancient Civilisations and their Environment

1.Rivers shape the natural landscape2.Rivers shape human activity. They

are very important and hence civilisations develop next to them

3.Rivers have a special place in human imagination due to their key role in survival

ConclusionThere is a VERY CLOSE relationship between Man and his Environment. If not for rivers, large civilisations would not have grown and flourished.  Even though there are some negative aspects of living near a river (flooding causes destruction), it is worth the risk of living there due to the fertile soil. (Similar to settlement near volcanoes)How we should treat

rivers and the environment in general?