Plains are often called the ‘cradle of civilization’. Most of the world’s ancient civilizations—such as the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia (Tigris-Euphrates) and the Egyptian (Nile) civilizations—began in fertile river plains. The reliable water supply and productive soil allowed early humans to settle, farm and build complex societies, moving away from a nomadic lifestyle. ANSWER: (D) Plains
Which of the following landforms is called the ‘cradle of civilization’? (A) Mountains (B) Hills (C) Plateaus (D) Plains
Share
In human geography, plains are recognized as the ‘cradle of civilization’ because they provided the surplus food necessary for the birth of cities and states. The flat, fertile land of river valleys allowed for the development of irrigation and high-yield agriculture. This led to a division of labor, where not everyone had to be a farmer, allowing for the rise of scholars, soldiers and artisans. From the Yellow River in China to the Indus in South Asia, plains have been the foundational stages upon which the most significant chapters of human history have been written, proving that geography is a primary driver of cultural evolution.