ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

River valley civilization

Alright kiddo, a long long time ago, many many years before you were born, there were people who lived near big rivers like the Nile in Egypt, the Indus in India, the Yellow River in China, and the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia. These people built cities and towns along the river valleys and their civilizations are called river valley civilizations.

These people were very smart and creative. They built houses, temples, and palaces using materials like clay and stone. They also did farming and raised animals like cows, goats, and sheep.

The rivers were very important to these civilizations because they provided water for irrigation to grow crops. The people made canals and dams to control the flow of water and distribute it to their fields. This helped them produce surplus food, which meant they had more than enough to eat and could trade the extra with other civilizations.

These civilizations also developed systems of writing like hieroglyphics in Egypt and cuneiform in Mesopotamia. They recorded important information like laws, religious beliefs, and epic stories on stone tablets and papyri.

Religion played a big role in the lives of people in the river valley civilizations. They worshiped many gods and goddesses and built elaborate temples to honor them. They believed that gods controlled everything from the weather to the harvest, and they needed to please them with offerings and rituals.

Overall, the river valley civilizations were very advanced and influential in shaping the world we live in today. They paved the way for the development of science, art, architecture, and systems of government. And guess what? We still use many of their innovations and ideas in modern times!
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