<p> Rivers can be extraordinarily powerful, and not just because of their fast-flowing currents. They can make civilizations rise or crumble, divide cultures or link them together, and even provide crucial clues to where we came from. </p><p> Dive into these 10 surprising stories about the power of rivers through the ages: <ul> <li> How the "lucky accident" of the Nile's unique flooding patterns allowed the culture of Ancient Egypt to flourish in one of the hottest, driest places on earth</li> <li> How medieval robber barons seized -- then lost -- control of the Rhine</li> <li> Why the Amazon helped scientists discover how species evolve</li> <li> How Livingstone's ill-fated exploration of the Zambezi changed Africa forever</li> <li> Why just about every hit song can be traced back to the Mississippi River</li> <li> How the massive Three Gorges Dam displaced over one million Chinese in the Yangtze River Valley</li> <li> Why people in India have gathered to bathe in the Ganges for thousands of years</li> <li> The crucial roles of the Awash (Ethiopia), the Thames (England), and the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (the Middle East) in human history.</li> </ul></p><p> Compelling storytelling, striking original art, and colorful photos take readers on a unique journey across time and place. </p>