Most ancient civilizations grew up along on the banks of the rivers. It is common knowledge that water is necessary for survival, but it is also critical to note the advantages that come with river water compared to other sources of water. During the ancient times, the rivers carried fresh water for drinking, irrigation, of crops, and watering livestock compared to other water bodies such as oceans and seas. The fact the river waters are always moving causing it to be replenished hence emphasizing its importance in irrigation. Furthermore, the constant movement of the rivers enables them to pick minerals and silt which act as fertilizers to crops. The first societies appeared almost 5000 years ago, and the unique thing about them is that they emerged along the banks of major rivers. As such, most of them are referred to as river civilizations. Examples of river civilizations were experienced in societies such as Egypt, India, and China. 1 It is therefore apparent that these early societies developed around the rivers due to the availability of fertile land and exposure to water.
Egypt
As stated earlier, these river civilizations began almost 5000 years ago along rivers. The Egypt civilization mainly started along the Nile River where India started along the Indus River. Two rivers enabled the success of the early civilization in China, namely; the Yellow and Blue Rivers. The Ancient Egypt society was comprised of immigrants who emanated from the deserts in the east and also the west of the River Nile. Others also originated from the Mediterranean region with others moving from central Africa. 2 All these people merged along narrow bands of land along the Nile River and parts of its Delta because it effectively supported agricultural cultivation. It is imperative to note that the Nile River is long and moves all the way from parts of East to Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its long pathway, it collects an immense amount of silt hence enriching the nearby soil making agricultural activities possible. Furthermore, the constant rivers flooding led to the formation of a green belt along the riverbanks, thereby leading to a close binding between Egypt's society and the River. The Nile has various sources leading to the Blue and the White Nile both of which guaranteed the inhabitants a constant supply of water. 3
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The early societies living around the Nile created food basins to coincide with the summer flood waters. As such, Moret asserted that the rich silt would find its way into the basins after deposition by the rivers which would subsequently drain away. The harnessing of Nile for Agriculture led to the rapid growth of Egypt. The role of the king was to protect the society from raiders emanating from the south and east and also ensuring that regular flooding occurred. The unique riverine culture created by the river developed a sense of common destiny to all the inhabitants. The communities flourished owing to the abundance of resources, self-sufficiency, and the availability of pharaohs whose job was to bring order and stability in shaping the upper and Lower Egypt. In bolstering agriculture, the farmers devised irrigational methods that sought to control the flow of water enabling the growth of crops both in the rainy and dry seasons. The success of agriculture in the banks led to various building projects such as the pyramids and temples.
China
The early civilization in China is commonly referred to as the Yellow River Civilization. It is one of the earliest civilizations in the entire world, and it immensely shaped the Chinese society. ‘'The Mother River,'' as commonly referred by the Chinese in reference to the Yellow river orchestrated a civilization that began almost 3000 years ago in the Neolithic Age. On the other hand, the Chinese did not view the yellow river just as a mass of water, but rather as a source of culture and civilization. The Yellow River was also a source of fertile and rich soil and also provided sufficient water for irrigation purposes. The river is long with a length of approximately 3,395 miles collect an immense amount of silt that gives the river its name. According to various accounts of Chinese history, different tribes united to form the Xia Kingdom with the aim of finding a long lasting solution to the devastating effects of the flooding caused by the river.
The success of the Xia Kingdom was down to several factors including unification behind able leaders, an immense amount of harvest as the Yellow river no longer destroyed their crops, and also due to the huge amounts of harvest collected due to soil fertility that was boosted by the availability of silt. The Shang dynasty that took over Xia also centered its success upon the Yellow River. The success in agriculture saw a shift in focus to other activities such as carvings and divination. One of the most ancient crops grown along the Yellow River was millet, which was highly nutritious and enabled people to have a constant supply of food. The Yangtze Valley region also provided a warm and wet climate leading to the growth of rice. The rivers provided for the growth of forests, hills, and valleys which led to the onset of hunting and gathering to supplement agriculture. As towns began to emerge along the Yellow River, people saw the need to venture into technical advances that resulted in the introduction of potter’s wheel, and production of jade ornaments. 4
India
The Indus River civilization dates back to around 2500 B.C.E. along the Indus River, the southwestern part to be precise. The rivers enabled agriculture with the development of irrigation systems which allowed the people to provide food for themselves. Kulke and Rothermund illustrated that the primary crops produced included wheat and barley. However, in some instances, crops such as rice, rye, peas, and cotton were also grown. Vast amounts of settlements were built along the Indus River and the surrounding areas. The agricultural activities along the Indus River were based on two activities. First, the people applied an irrigation method that was consistent with the Mesopotamian model in enhancing their agricultural operations. The farmers also took advantage of the fertile and spacious Indus River valley. However, the Indus River also posed a significant challenge to the inhabitants because despite the fact that it consistently fertilized the region, the occurrence of annual floods which led to fertilization of lands as well as destroying of crops.
The agricultural success saw a tremendous increase in population that led to an expansion in the whole river area. Kulke and Rothermund outlined that the surplus of the agricultural produce also prompted the emergence of commerce. Diversity also increased as people shifted focus to other activities such as the domestication of animals such as cats and dogs and the Asian elephant. Trade in Gold and silver also emerged in the region with a triangle of trade formed consisting of Afghanistan, India, and Iran. Civilization along the Indus River is also known to lead to cities, towns and many villages notably Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
Influence to the Society
One of the main similarities in the influence of rivers to the early societies in Egypt, China, and India is that it created an awareness of agriculture. With water and silt that provided fertility, people engaged in agriculture whose success led to other economic activities such as commerce and carvings. It is also critical to note that the rivers strengthened the societies in several ways. They brought people together hence building on their cohesion. Weber pointed out that once success was witnessed in agriculture and various sectors; there was an increasing need for law and order. Therefore, this led to the emergence of leaders such as emperors and pharaohs who enhanced orderliness in the wake of economic success. Weber illustrated that other social institutions such as religion and rituals were also emphasized in a bid to seek divine intervention to increase the chances of prosperity. In all the civilizations, the settlements were established along the rivers. One of the major differences seen in these civilizations is in their focus. Egyptians' attention was mainly on the afterlife as seen by their building of pyramids as burial sites. 5 The Chinese, on the other hand, built roads to enhance their trade and farming practices. In India, the focus was mainly on building cities and establishing a strong government.
Civilization is the development of a complex society characterized by social stratification, urban development, unique way of communication, and the presence of a form of government that enhances law and orderliness. From the three, Egypt had the most civilized society. First, Egypt had a more sophisticated writing style known as hieroglyphics as compared to the Chinese and Indian societies which had less developed writing mechanisms. Egypt had already mastered the art of architecture and building at early ages of civilization that saw them build pyramids as burial sites. As such, they also remained cognizant of their religion which meant that there was life after death. The Egyptians developed a complex perception of time that led them to develop a calendar before the other two civilizations.
The three civilizations, Egypt, India, and China, owe their existence to rivers which provided them with fresh water for irrigation and fertile soils for agriculture. It is through agriculture that the societies became diverse enough to venture into other economic activities that led to the development of towns, strong economic and social ties that set a pathway for the development of the present day societies. 6
Works Cited
Chen, Yunzhen, et al. "Socio-economic impacts on flooding: a 4000-year history of the Yellow River, China." Ambio 41.7 (2012): 682-698.
Kulke, Hermann, and Dietmar Rothermund. A history of India. Routledge, 2016.
Macklin, Mark G., and John Lewin. "The rivers of civilization." Quaternary Science Reviews 114 (2015): 228-244.
Moret, Alexandre. The Nile and Egyptian Civilization. Routledge, 2013.
Weber, Max. The agrarian sociology of ancient civilizations. Verso Books, 2013.
