Which regions were favoured as areas of human settlement given the technology available during the classical period?

During the classical period, regions that were favored for human settlement based on available technology included river valleys like the Nile in Egypt, Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, and the Indus in the Indian subcontinent due to access to water for agriculture and transportation. Coastal areas such as the Mediterranean were also favored for their access to trade routes and fertile land.