As civilizations were beginning to appear, the geography played a huge role in deciding where to place these aspiring communities. One geographical necessity was a body of water. Bodies of water, such as the Nile River, offered many things such as drinking water and the fertile soil surrounding them. This fertile soil would then provide land for the people to irrigate and plant their crops. They were also very helpful trade routes for these societies. Another important geographical feature that many civilizations were strategically placed around was barriers of protection. The barriers included topographical landmarks such as deserts and mountains. The settlers also looked for shelter. Some peoples would inhabit caves or use their resources
