how have waterway most influenced human settlement in South Asia

a Most people live along the coasts of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to better conduct trade

b Mountains passes carved by rivers have encourage growth of cities in the northern plains

c the flood plains around the Ganges and the Brahmaputra Rivers support agriculture needed to sustain large populations

d Isolated waterways led to the growth of major cities to cut off much of the interior from settlement

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Why did most early civilizations grow up along the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, and Indus?

To understand how waterways have influenced human settlement in South Asia, we can analyze the given options:

a) Most people live along the coasts of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to better conduct trade: This option highlights the significance of coastal areas for trade purposes. Waterways along the coasts provide transportation routes, facilitating trade and commerce. Coastal regions often have ports that act as important hubs for economic and cultural exchange, attracting settlements and urban development.

b) Mountains passes carved by rivers have encouraged the growth of cities in the northern plains: In South Asia, numerous rivers flow down from the Himalayas, creating valleys and plains in the northern region. These rivers often cut through mountains, forming passes that have historically provided access between different areas. The availability of these passes facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and migration, leading to the growth of cities and settlements in the northern plains.

c) The flood plains around the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers support agriculture needed to sustain large populations: The Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers are significant water bodies in South Asia. They flow through vast flood plains, which are fertile and suitable for agriculture. The periodic flooding of these plains enriches the soil, making it highly productive for cultivation. As a result, the availability of water and fertile land in these areas has supported the growth of agriculture-based societies, leading to the development of large settlements and sustaining dense populations.

d) Isolated waterways led to the growth of major cities while cutting off much of the interior from settlement: This option highlights the impact of isolated waterways. In some cases, waterways may act as natural barriers, limiting settlement and connectivity. Therefore, major cities may develop around these isolated waterways due to their strategic positions for trade or defense. However, the interior areas, cut off from these major waterways, might have relatively fewer settlements.

In conclusion, all the provided options reflect different ways in which waterways have influenced human settlement in South Asia. However, the most accurate answer to the question is c) The flood plains around the Ganges and the Brahmaputra Rivers support agriculture needed to sustain large populations.