Geography and environment play a fundamental role in the creation and success of almost all civilizations. For example, rivers bring water and allow agricultural development, while mountains or deserts provide protection and create a barrier. Many things, such as the aforementioned deserts and mountains, can offer both positive and negative influences on the society in question. Climate and the amount of rainfall are directly related to the success or failure of growing crops, and therefore the amount of time spent simply surviving. Civilizations that are able to devote less time to subsistence agriculture are able to redirect that energy toward the advancement of arts, culture, religion, and science. Where a civilization is located will always play a crucial role in the success – or failure – of the society. The first example of this is also the first example of what we recognize as a civilized community. These cities, including Ur, Eridu, and Uruk, were founded along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is now known as the Middle East (specifically, the modern country of Iraq). The land on both sides of these rivers was the only place where agriculture could survive in this harsh climate, thus making it the only viable place where people could survive. Indeed, cities themselves were founded when people banded together in the only places where they had any chance of survival. However, the open, flat terrain of this area also made it easy to maneuver armies and dictate conquest; as a result, these early cities were often involved in conflict with themselves and the people around them. Much of their income and resources were devoted to weapons development and training, but... halfway... the protection of the desert was not available to them, all the time spent on establishing their An elaborate society and complex would be spent scraping an existence from the desert land and Egypt, as we know it, would not exist. In conclusion, it is easy to understand how civilizations are shaped by the geography and environment of the surrounding earth. They. For some, such as Egypt and Ur, it pervades all aspects of life, while for others it may simply act as an influence. The amount of time left for artistic, scientific, and religious specialization in a civilization is directly linked to the success or failure of agriculture in that area, as well as the need to develop a strong military. Since the dawn of humanity, all cities and civilizations have had to find a way to work with or around the geography of the land in which they are located.