Why did so many early civilizations arise near river valleys? Rivers provided an easy route for trade.
The seclusion of a valley provided protection from enemies.
Water created fertile soil and other agricultural advantages.
Monsoons inflicted less damage away from coastal areas.

In e. c. tolman's experiment, some rats were trained to run through mazes for standard food goals, while other rats were allowed to explore the mazes for 10 days without food goals or other rewards. later, when food rewards were placed in a box at the far end of the maze, the previously unrewarded rats reached the food box as quickly as the rewarded rats after only one or two trials. this experiment demonstrated that the rats had the ability to form of their surroundings.