Why did early civilizations settle near coasts or waterways?

Easy access to abundant protein sources: clams, crabs, mussels, oysters and the like are easy to harvest and prepare without fancy tools, and have high caloric value. read more

Fresh water, of course, is the elixir of life and if a clan could settle near a steady source of it, they were way ahead of the game. Fish became important to diets. Early peoples usually did not venture far out to sea, but seafood was nice and abundant seashells were handy for fashioning tools and seaweed could be made into ropes and nets and pads. read more

They settled near rivers for water and animals. Animals would go to the water so the area would be good for hunting. read more