Why did many cities develop along rivers?

Answer 1

There are many reasons why big cities are located along the banks of a river:

• Rivers provide good shipping routes and transportation of both goods and passengers.
• Products can be shipped up and down rivers, instead of clogging roadways with trucks.
• The land near rivers is very fertile.
• Rivers provide water & food.

Answer 2

Most major cities were founded 100's if not 1000's of years ago. In those times major rivers were vital for transport, trade, and defence. Rivers like the Thames gave the Romans a sheltered inland port at Londinium with quick access to the open sea. Until the birth of the railway boats were the only way to shift goods economically. Canals were built all over Britain. The longest being the Grand Union Canal which linked the north of Britain to London and the Thames river. As these settlemts were the center of commerce they grew and grew and today are our major cities.

Answer 3

In the past, cities were built along rivers and lakes because of the convenience in having a nearby water supply. This enabled the farmers to grow much larger amounts of crops and raise more animals with less effort.

From the financial standpoint of older civilizations, it was also much cheaper to build near water for agricultural purposes than it was to build structures similar to aquaducts.

As time progressed and ships were used as the primary means of conveying goods, cities were located near rivers because it allowed them to trade massive amounts of goods compared to shipping them in caravans. This was of course before the invention of the steam engine and thusly, the locamotive.

This has little bearing on the modern world as far as nations like Canada and the United States are concerned, but still affects smaller villages in hot climates that lie along the equator, in the Middle East and some parts of Australia.

Answer 4

Because back when there was no running water in the world they had to live where they could easily have access to water or there was need of a port to transfer goods so people started to live in these areas and it went from there

Answer 5

Basically, water is life. Hunting animals for food is easier closer to the water, where they must drink. Humans can only survive about three days without drinking water or some other substantial liquids. We bathe ourselves, clean our foods, and wash our cooking utensils with water. We use existing waterways to construct canals to divert water to places far removed from the waterway itself. We also travel on waterways via boats and construct bridges across rivers to connect communities on both sides of the rivers.

Answer 6

so that the city could have resources near the river/lake

eg. fish, water etc

Answer 7

Major cities developed near bodies of water because the people that lived there needed to clean, cook and drink to keep hydrated and to do those things they need water and so do you and i.

Answer 8

easy to defend