How did early civilizations use natural resources to survive?

Early civilizations primarily learned to manage their resources to survive and thrive in their environments. While they did utilize various natural resources such as water, timber, minerals, and fertile land, they developed sustainable practices to ensure the longevity of these resources.

1. **Resource Management**: Early civilizations often learned agricultural practices that allowed them to cultivate the land efficiently, rotate crops, and improve soil fertility. This management helped ensure that they could produce food reliably over generations.

2. **Sustainable Practices**: Many societies engaged in practices like selective hunting and fishing, which helped maintain the populations of the species they relied on. They also practiced gathering in ways that did not deplete wild plant populations.

3. **Adaptation to Environment**: Civilizations adapted their use of resources based on their specific environments, developing technologies and methods suited to their local conditions. For instance, irrigation systems were developed in arid regions to maximize water use.

4. **Community Regulations**: Some early societies implemented communal rules regarding resource use to prevent over-exploitation, helping communities manage their resources collectively.

Thus, while they may have faced challenges in depletion at times, the most successful early civilizations were those that implemented effective resource management strategies rather than using resources until they were completely exhausted.