L. I. Mechnikov (1838-1888) had been trying to develop the «Geographic theory of social progress». Being the opponent of «Geographical fatalism» and teleological view of geographical environment's role in social development, he aspired to rely on rigorous scientific facts, but could not escape the mistakes that were quite natural for the science level of his time. As well, it concerns his basic treatise, published in Paris, 1889. It cannot be considered quite correct from both geographic and historical points of view that civilizations originated in the valleys of Nile (Egypt), Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia) and Ind (Sind), on the one hand, and ones originated in basins of Ganges and rivers of Eastern China, on the other, are referred to one type. The article is dedicated to historico-geographical analysis of mentioned «river» civilizations. The first part considers focuses of the first three of them.