The Effects of Trade and Agriculture Advancements in Ancient Civilizations
The Effects of Trade and Agriculture Advancements in Ancient Civilizations
In the earliest civilizations agriculture and trade had fantastic effects on everyday life. The Mesopotamians and Egyptians paved the way for modern day nations to thrive. Irrigation and soil quality had a lot to do with the earliest civilizations crop success or failure (Perry, Chase, Jacob, Jacob & Von Laue, 2009). The beginning of trade routes and paths with safe travel helped the civilizations to become quite wealthy (Perry, et. al, 2009). Altogether, the beginning of all civilization began, simply, with growing crops and trading them. The growing of crops in Mesopotamia took place near the rivers surrounding it: the Tigris and Euphrates. The area is now known as the “fertile crescent,” and can support a variety of crops (Rayment, 2012). Because the main outcome of Mesopotamia’s toil was crops, they relied heavily on trade to support the people (Perry, et. al, 2009). What helped Mesopotamia to succeed most was the fact that they were able to exercise private enterprise (Perry, et. al, 2009). Of course, laws had to be established to ensure the fairness and safety of trade (Perry, et. al, 2009). If such laws and standards had not been established by a stable government early on, the entire operation of trade throughout the early civilizations would have crumbled. In Ancient Egypt agriculture began quite easily using “the gift of the Nile,” which was the extremely rich and fertile soil produced by irrigation near the Nile (Perry, et. al, 2009, p. 14). The Egyptians were blessed in other areas, too, such as their precious metals and other natural resources (Perry, et. al, 2009). Because of the overabundance of the crops and the various other treasures the land had to offer, the Egyptians thrived. Trade routes were established stretching from Egypt to Persia, and even overseas (Perry, et. al, 2009). Had the Egyptians not been blessed with such great land they may not have
In the earliest civilizations agriculture and trade had fantastic effects on everyday life. The Mesopotamians and Egyptians paved the way for modern day nations to thrive. Irrigation and soil quality had a lot to do with the earliest civilizations crop success or failure (Perry, Chase, Jacob, Jacob & Von Laue, 2009). The beginning of trade routes and paths with safe travel helped the civilizations to become quite wealthy (Perry, et. al, 2009). Altogether, the beginning of all civilization began, simply, with growing crops and trading them. The growing of crops in Mesopotamia took place near the rivers surrounding it: the Tigris and Euphrates. The area is now known as the “fertile crescent,” and can support a variety of crops (Rayment, 2012). Because the main outcome of Mesopotamia’s toil was crops, they relied heavily on trade to support the people (Perry, et. al, 2009). What helped Mesopotamia to succeed most was the fact that they were able to exercise private enterprise (Perry, et. al, 2009). Of course, laws had to be established to ensure the fairness and safety of trade (Perry, et. al, 2009). If such laws and standards had not been established by a stable government early on, the entire operation of trade throughout the early civilizations would have crumbled. In Ancient Egypt agriculture began quite easily using “the gift of the Nile,” which was the extremely rich and fertile soil produced by irrigation near the Nile (Perry, et. al, 2009, p. 14). The Egyptians were blessed in other areas, too, such as their precious metals and other natural resources (Perry, et. al, 2009). Because of the overabundance of the crops and the various other treasures the land had to offer, the Egyptians thrived. Trade routes were established stretching from Egypt to Persia, and even overseas (Perry, et. al, 2009). Had the Egyptians not been blessed with such great land they may not have
References: Perry, M., Chase, M., Jacob, J., Jacob, M., & Von Laue, T. (2009). Western civilization: Ideas, politics, and society. (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth. Rayment, W. J. (2012). Mesopotamia: First civilization. Retrieved from http://www.indepthinfo.com/history-ancient/mesopotamia.htm