One of the most important factors in development is geography, where the country is in the world, and climate. It’s no coincidence that the poorest countries are in the tropics, where it is hot, the land is less fertile, water is more scarce, where diseases flourish. Some countries are just at a natural disadvantage.

How does geography influence a country’s government? Geographic areas can actually determine how political and administrative units are drawn up and how they will be governed. Geography influences governments as they develop policy to provide people with goods and services.

The earliest civilizations developed between 4000 and 3000 BCE, when the rise of agriculture and trade allowed people to have surplus food and economic stability. Many people no longer had to practice farming, allowing a diverse array of professions and interests to flourish in a relatively confined area.

Writing emerged in many early civilizations as a way to keep records and better manage complex institutions. Cuneiform writing in early Mesopotamia was first used to keep track of economic exchanges.

The population growing created trade of goods for raw materials. Writing was used to keep records of history and important matters. Eventually writing was also used for creative expression and produced literature. Architecture was used to build temples for worship or sacrifice and palaces and tombs for kings.

Characteristics of Civilizations

• the presence of geographic boundaries and political institutions.
• an economy that produces food surpluses.
• a concentration of population in distinct areas or cities.
• the existence of social classes.
• developed systems of religion, learning, art, and architecture.
• a system of record keeping.

The study argues that: firstly, civilization is vital to man’s living. Without it solidarity, cooperation and fraternity among people of different nations cannot be achieved; secondly, every civilization, regardless of its size and lifespan, has contributed tremendously to other civilizations.

Advantages ✓

• Protection from nature, animals.
• Surplus of food. There’s a consistent supply of food.
• Specialization. Not everyone has to be a farmer.
• Humans are more complex.
• Less worrying about food and water.

Every year, we destroy forests and other natural areas, driving species into smaller areas or endangerment, because of our need to build more houses for our growing population. All these factors can pose big problems for the human civilization.

The most important advantage of civilization is specialisation. In a subsistence economy everyone must farm and produce food to feed themselves and their family. When you spend all day farming you have no time to do very specialised tasks. When you have civilization you have specialist farmers who are very efficient.

Advantages of Civilization Disadvantages of Civilizations Development of specialized skills, inventions, arts, and literature Increase in class and gender distinctions, creating oppression for some Building of economically and politically coordinated cities Overproduction of land, depletion of soil, eventual …

What are the advantages to living near a river in a river valley civilization? Disadvantages? Advantages are transportation, fertile soil/irrigation, and water to drink. Disadvantages are unpredictable flooding, and lose homes/lives/crops.

In the beginning, the biggest disadvantages were disease and malnutrition resulting in decreased height, fitness, and then tooth decay.

It has made us forget ‘love thy neighbour’. We have banished from our hearts hospitality, brotherhood, religion and charity. Our hearts are no longer full of the milk of human kindness. Civilization has placed unlimited power in the hands of man.

Advantages: 1) Mountains help with irrigation systems, as water travelled down 2) They had some fertile land 3) Mountains defended them against enemies.

It allowed China to focus on their innovations and food instead of protection and military power. A positive of being isolated would be that they only knew their own ideas and cultures and weren’t exposed to other world powers and influence. This deprived them of technologies, languages, and innovations.