Where Did Civilization Begin?
Many believe that civilization began in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In order for a society to be civilized, it must have towns, some form of state governance and a civil service.
Around 3200 B.C., civilization began in two separate areas. In an location that the world now knows as Iraq, the Sumerians settled to form Mesopotamia. In North Africa, ancient Egypt began to form along the Nile Valley. It is thought that both civilizations were able to form because the rivers they revolved around allowed for farming communities to settle rather than move from place to place. As more villages began to gather around these rivers, there was a need for cooperation to prevent ongoing conflicts. This then led to the formation of states.
The next civilizations to follow Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt were the Indus in 2500 B.C. and the Aegeans in 2000 B.C. There is a chance that Mesopotamians visiting the Indus area inspired the civilization there, which became larger than ancient Egypt and lasted for 1000 years. In contrast, the Aegeans began to establish in the stable Greek seas, which were ideal for trading and transport.
The next civilization to form was China, which began in 1600 B.C. China began with the Shang dynasty, and its bronze trade flourished.
