* Transportation: Rivers were used to transport people and goods. Boats and barges were used to travel up and down rivers, and they could carry large loads of cargo.
* Irrigation: Rivers were used to irrigate crops. Farmers would build canals and channels to divert water from the river to their fields.
* Drinking water: Rivers were a source of drinking water for people and animals.
* Fishing: Rivers were a source of food, as fish could be caught in the river.
* Bathing: Rivers were used for bathing and washing clothes.
* Religious rituals: Rivers were often considered to be sacred, and they were used for religious rituals and ceremonies.