Europe and the Mediterranean In Europe, along rivers or coasts, the most powerful cultures also flourished. The trading routes of the East had such a heavy impact that they allowed the ancient civilizations of the West to develop almost simultaneously as the ancient civilizations of the East were developing. There is no question that ancient cultures made important and valuable contributions to humanity in all fields of life. Such contributions have helped individuals to learn and work better in their daily lives, enabling economies to make huge strides in their economic and political growth.