Complex Civilization - SAQ Review

The river basin environment of Mesopotamia stimulated the development of advanced technologies like irrigation and the building of reservoirs that allowed people to increase their harvests and prepare supplies of water in times of drought or famine. The increased yields of crops and safe water supply helped to support larger populations.

River valleys have an adequate source of water and keeps the soil fertile. This allows agriculture to be more efficient, leading to large cities and job specialization. Job specialization led to cultural and technological development, such as tools and written language. It also led to social and political developments. River valleys contribute to the development of complex human societies because of its potential for agricultural use.

The Nile River gave the communities living along it fertile soil and predictable flooding to produce bountiful crops. This gave the people living there a surplus of crops which led to people being able to specialize in different jobs to create culture, or other items to contribute towards the economy, thus resulting in a complex human society being built along the Nile river.