The rise of civilizations was a monumental occurrence in human history. It altered how humans interacted with their environment and each other. Felipe Fernandez-Armesto defines a civilization as "a way of life based on radically modifying the environment" (Armesto). This definition is an immaculate way to describe the Egyptians along with Hittite and the Dorset People. These "nursery civilizations" (56) essentially reconstruct the course of history with their industrious developments and way of life.
The various communities that arose during early agriculture resembled the foraging communities before them in that they were extended family businesses where everyone was connected via kinship. On the other hand, in areas with greater resources or encouraging effects of cross-cultural contact due to migration or trade, different standards succeeded. Communities became defined by territorial possessions and economic obligation shaped allegiance. Scholars have tried to divide this progression into sequences of change: chiefdoms eventually become states and towns grow into cities. Naturally, this is going to effect how humans interact with their environment because when the population increases, new technologies have to be developed in order to feed everyone. In addition, in these areas, likely changes tend to follow. The government enlarges and communities become more categorized.
For instance, in the northern Nile River Valley, distinguishing food sources and beneficial plants complemented what farmers could grow in the irrigated southern lands and hunters and gathers could thrive in the marshlands. These factors allowed Egypt to grow into a large-scale civilization since they could provide for their people. The Egyptian economy warranted basic nutrition for a large population and not individual abundance. The majority of the population lived modestly on beer and bread. This created surpluses that provoked trade and made up for the lack of timber. This...