Agriculture developed earlier near rivers in many parts of the world as this brought many advantages along with it. The soil was fertile, making farming more efficient and good crops would grow, the fish in the river could be a source of food and the river itself could be used for traveling purposes as this would be easier and cheaper. People also wouldn't have to travel very far to get water for their everyday uses. Thus, the river provided a stable and useful place where people could settle down and so agriculture developed in these areas.
