A Journey Through the Currents of Human History A magisterial history of the seven rivers representing the great natural arteries running through civilization, by virtue of the roles they have played in our shared and conflicted world history. Every river deserves its own history. The seven rivers in this narrative were chosen because they are major rivers that magnify the common qualities of these great natural arteries that run through civilization. The Nile, Danube, Niger, Mississippi, Ganges, Yangtze, and Thames are all "world rivers" by virtue of the roles they have each played in our shared and conflicted world history. They have served as the power bases for empires and have been fought over as frontiers. Their river basins—those great systems of tributaries and groundwater all flowing to the main river—have been plundered for their gold, timber, salt, oil, rubber, and their people. Vast networks have been forged between these rivers.