Where do you expect human settlement to occur?

Many factors can play into this. There are so many diverse cultures and civilizations that have occurred throughout history, and many still thrive today. Mesopotamia, for example, had very nutrient rich soil and was close to the equator, and was located near the Tigris–Euphrates river system, making it perfect for growing crops and raising a population of humans. It could also be availability of lumber, coal, precious metals, and wild animals.

Explanation:

answer; by working independently, the states have a high likelihood of developing innovative solutions that can be employed in other states;