There are several reasons why early civilizations began in river valleys. The main reason is the array of benefits that this brings to agriculture. Proximity to river valleys means that people are able to irrigate their crops more easily. Moreover, river valleys are often flooded, which brings valueable nutrients to the soil, making it more fertile. Besides agriculture, river valleys are important in various other ways. Rivers provide a reliable source of water for communities. They also allow people to travel easily, connecting faraway communities with each other.