modifying the environment

Throughout history geography has greatly affected the development of a civilization. While some civilizations were blessed with large amount of space and valuable resources, others had to endure a scarce amount of land and not many resources to help them survive. Manipulating the environment has been a necessary aspect of survival, for civilizations such as Egyptians and Aztecs. The Egyptians, located in Eastern Africa, were challenged by the unpredictable flooding of the Nile River. The Aztecs, located in the valley of Mexico, were challenged by living in an area with many shallows lakes but limited land. Although modifying the environment can cause disasters, it also provides food and resources for the people, and therefore, modifying the environment is beneficial and necessary to the success of a civilization. Modifying the environment is beneficial and necessary for a successful civilization because it led to the creation of a surplus of food which resulted in a strong economy; it also led to the creation of laws which in a stable society with strong values, and lastly it led to the expansion of land which resulted in effective population management.

Modifying the environment led to the creation of a surplus of food which resulted in a strong economy. A surplus of food was significant to civilizations because it allowed the civilizations to have time to develop other aspects of their civilization and it also allowed them to trade. According to document 2b, “Thus, when the Egyptians invented tools to lift water, such as the shaduf, they were able to cultivate two crops per year, which was considered a great advance in the field of irrigation.” This evidence proves the main idea because the shaduf doubles the amount of...

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...s of civilization to modify their environment. Civilizations such as the Aztecs and Egyptians were able to take their civilization the extra miles by establishing laws which instilled values, a surplus of food which boosted their economy and efficient land management to unify the people. The accomplishments of ancient civilization have laid the foundation for much of the technology we used today. For example, the irrigation canals of the Egyptians have become the indoor plumbing we rely on daily. In Dubai, the king is creating new land to increase economic opportunity. Lastly, the shaduf is the inspiration for many modern tools which require the use of pulley. All of the variety of modification made while these civilizations established shaped the world we live in today, the advancement made technologically, economically and socially left footprints in history.