Final answer:
The unpredictable flooding and river flow in Mesopotamia made it harder to manage resources compared to the Indus Valley civilization which had a predictable climate and enhanced urban planning.
Step-by-step explanation:
One reason why the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was less suitable for a civilization than the Indus Valley is the unpredictability of their river flow and flooding, making it more difficult to manage. While the Indus Valley had predictable cycles possibly due to monsoons and a climate that permitted a sustainable agricultural output, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates, known as Mesopotamia, had frequent and unpredictable floods making it difficult to control and manage the resources efficiently. The flooding was often destructive, delivering more of a blow to civilization growth than offering benefits from the nutrient deposits it left behind.
Despite the challenges, Mesopotamia did emerge as a civilization with efforts including cooperative irrigation projects to control the water flow. However, in the Indus Valley civilization, archaeological records indicate a level of urban planning, advanced drainage systems, and agricultural activities that was more conducive to civilization growth. The uniform culture that formed was defined by advancements like a systematic street plan and distinctive bricks, indications of a more structured civilization than that of Mesopotamia.
Ancient civilizations' progress is typically determined by the control they had over their environment. The Mesopotamian civilization managed to develop in spite of the challenges posed by the unpredictable river flow, but arguably, the favorable and predictable geographical conditions in the Indus Valley enhanced the growth and complexity of the civilization there, making it more attractive for human settlement.
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