In order for civilizations to develop, rivers and basic needs in life such as animals were present. From early ages of the domestication of animals and the development of agriculture growth in the Neolithic revolution, rivers were a basic necessity in order to escape nomadic lifestyles. Since the use of machines didn't occur until the scientific revolution (that occurred around 1500-1700) natural resources played a major role in the success of major civilizations while they also had negative effects. C oal, oil, and diamonds have also helped the development of nations and regions. Mountains were also used as resources for protection in Greece and also led to a variety of customs in these areas.
As stated in the first document, access to water helped early civilizations develop, however, this need for water limited the places civilizations developed until the invention of the sewage and irrigation system. A good example of how the need for a continuous flow of water effected the growth of civilizations is present in India. Monsoons, which were seasonal winds of the Indian Ocean, provided irrigation for crops at specific times. However, whenever the monsoons didn't occur, agricultural production decreased rapidly. From document you get the idea of Britain becoming a vast civilization due to trade on nearby bodies of water. Being the largest natural resource on the earth, water provided a means of transportation, trade, agriculture growth, and the development of large civilizations. Water also reduced our instinct of hunting and gathering and increased cultural diffusion.
Coal, which was extremely popular in Britain (Document 3), helped Britain grow into a successful and more advanced nation. By learning to harness the energy in this fossil fuel, Civilizations were able to expand by slowly eliminating the need for water. At this point, factories were being built which led to a major breakthrough in technological advancement. Coal led to the building of many other objects and was used to eventually make steel. The negative effect of coal was that it lead to air pollution and poor health. Since child labor laws were not set at this time, children were forced to work in factories often resulting in injury or fatality. Although coal lead to many chances for jobs, the health risks weren't worth the money.
As talked about in document 5, oil aided in the expansion of Kuwait. Money from oil led to modernization between 1952 and 1965. As today, oil was an extremely wealthy business to join and many people attempted to find oil. Since oil also pollutes the air and it is a basic necessity all over the world, an alternative renewable resource will be needed. Today, Conflict for oil in Iraq has led to war and destruction. In Kuwait, oil was also linked to health risks. Although this non-renewable resource seems to last for ever, it is limited and it must be replaced eventually. Oil is one of the best representations of how natural resources can help or hinder civilizations.
Based on the documents presented, it is obvious that natural resources have helped the development of many major civilizations on all continents. In order for civilizations to develop natural resources such as water, c oal, oil, and diamonds are needed for development of the human society.
