Archaeologists study ancient human settlements and artifacts to learn about past civilizations. River valleys were sites of early permanent settlements during the Neolithic period due to their fertile soil, water sources, and natural protections. Key early civilizations included the Mesopotamians along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the Egyptians in the Nile River valley, the Indus civilization in the Indus River valley, and the Chinese in the Huang He valley.

2. 1. What do archaeologists study?
2. How can we determine the age of ancient fossils and
artifacts?
3. List 3 archaeological sites that are currently under
investigation.
4. What might society lose if these sites are destroyed
before we have adequate time to study them?
5. List some key differences between Paleolithic and
Neolithic humans.

4. WHI.3a Geography of Ancient Civilizations

5.  During the New Stone
Age, permanent
settlements appeared in
river valleys and around
the Fertile Crescent.

6.  River Valleys provided rich soil for crops, irrigation
waters for agriculture, as well as protection from
invasion by nomadic peoples.

7.  Mesopotamian
Civilization
 Tigris and Euphrates
River
 Southwest Asia (Modern
Day Iraq)

8.  Egyptian Civilization
 Nile River Valley and
Delta
 Northeast Africa

9.  Indian Civilization
 Indus River Valley
 South Asia

11.  Chinese Civilization
 Huange He Valley
(Yellow River)
 East Asia

12.  Hebrews settled between
the Mediterranean Sea
and the Jordan River
Valley.

13.  Phoenicians settled
along the Mediterranean
coast

14.  Nubia was located on the
upper (southern) Nile
River in Africa.