Notes

Have you ever been to a large city? If so, have you ever noticed that most large cities are near water? Cities are often found near rivers, lakes, and oceans. There are many reasons why this pattern is found around the world. Water is needed for life to exist. People must live near sources of water to survive. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are also good sources of food. They give us many plants and animals to eat. We also rely on water to help us go from place to place and move goods across great distances.

When civilization first began, cities formed along the major rivers in each region. These cities grew quickly. In these cities, people formed social systems and religions. They created new forms of technology and ideas about law and government. Perhaps most importantly, these early peoples invented writing. Writing helped cultures preserve their ideas in the scrolls and tablets they left behind. Although these artifacts were written in ancient languages, they show their view of the world many years ago.

Take a moment to view the slideshow. In it, we will continue the adventure with our history time-travel agent: Mr. Lightfoot. He is joined by two special guests from ancient history, Maya and Prince Amenemhet. They will help you get ready to explore Module Two Ancient River Civilizations.

Journey Through Time