Question

the cities and Empire develop in the river valleys give reasons

Answer 1

Rivers are ideal for settlement for a number of reasons.
Obviously, water is a necessity for survival, but other bodies of water may not be as good as a river.
Rivers carry fresh water good for drinking, watering livestock and irrigating crops, unlike oceans or seas.
Water in rivers move, so they do not become stagnant, like ponds can.
Since rivers are always moving and replenished, they are excellent for irrigation. Furthermore, as they move, they pick up silt and minerals and essentially bring fertilizer to floodplains. This is why Mesopotamia was so fertile.
And remember, ancient history is based on incomplete sourcing. It’s quite possible some ancient people settled on a lake for a generation or two and then left without leaving anything monumental or significant enough that we recognize their culture as a “civilization.”