Matthew Kee

8/23/14

3rd period

Geography is harnessed as a habitat for civilizations to adapt and settle in. Ranging

from the creation of nature deities to the main mode of transportation, geography

determines the culture and way of life for each civilization. Both Early China and

Mesopotamia benefited from their respective rivers through agriculture and means of

transport. However, Mesopotamia was able to trade and interact with other civilizations

which allowed them to obtain multiple resources whereas China was isolated, due to the

large mountain ranges in the southwest and stretches of desert in the west to north of

China, allowing them focus heavily on divination and resources given in their land.

On an agricultural standpoint, both river civilizations flourished in staple crops and

transportation after learning to tame the rivers with canals. By 3000 B.C.E. the

Mesopotamians created canals to transport water to the fields. This allowed a steady flow

of water to nourish the soil which would be used to grow Barley, their staple crop.

Furthermore, the Mesopotamians were able to use the river to trade goods with

surrounding civilizations such as the Egyptians and civilizations in Lebanon. The Chinese

also used the canals to their advantage. Rice fields had to be surrounded by water channels

at specific times in order for the crop to ripen. Because the mountain range blocked

transportation by foot, the Chinese were able to use the river in order to travel from west

to the east. The Euphrates and Tigris River allowed the Mesopotamians to harvest their

barley just as the Chinese used the Yellow River to cultivate their rice patties.

Looking at the geography economically and culturally, the mountains hindered the

Chinese as they were very limited to trade with other civilizations. Because of this, the

Chinese focused on producing materials with the resources available such as silk and

bronze. Furthermore, the Chinese invested heavily on philosophy like Daoism, Legalism,

and Confucianism. Since the Mesopotamians did not have this issue, they were able to trade

with nearby civilizations to obtain resources not found in their land. Using the Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers, the Mesopotamians traded with Egypt and Anatolia for precious metals

such as silver and gold. The Mesopotamians also created the language Cuneiform in order

to formally organize used for business transactions between the other civilizations. The

language allowed a central language for marketing purposes. The Mesopotamians

converged with other civilizations allowing a language for trade to be developed whereas

China remained an isolated nation causing them to create controversial philosophies.

Even though the culture and agriculture would soon change as China took on a new

dynasty leading into new cultures and Mesopotamians falling into Dark Ages as their

irrigation ruined the fields with salt, both maintained their original agricultural structures

by using the river to their advantages. However, the Mesopotamians would continue to

prosper awhile longer as the Hittites, Assyrians, and Babylonians cultivated the civilization

to Babylon. China, on the other hand, would continue down their unique dynasty system

until their isolation was no more.