THE GEOGRAPHIC BASIS OF HISTORY 379
eegenerated to a very low stage of civilization. At Turfan, again, the population was permanently much reduced, and at one time, when a comparatively rapid increase of aridity was forcing the Mongols out of the mountains, the wandering nomads raided their neighbors in the villages of the plain so mercilessly as to drive away practically the whole population. Everywhere in arid regions we find evidence that desiccation has caused famines, depopulation, raids, wars, migrations, and the decay of civilization. In the moist region of Kashmir, on the contrary, higher temperature and diminished snowfall have made for progress. The nomads of ancient times have adopted the pursuit of agriculture; the number of people whom the region can support has increased many fold; and all manner of arts and crafts have been encouraged. The civilization of Kashmir is low compared to that of Europe, but it is far in advance of anything to which pastoral nomads attain.
Chinese Turkestan and Kashmir may be taken as typical of the effects of changes of climate upon the arid regions of the world, on the one hand, and upon the moister temperate regions, on the other. If our theories as to changes of climate and as to the influence of physical environment on human habits and character are correct, the history of Turkestan ought to be typical of that of the vast arid and semi-arid regions extending from Morocco on the west to Manchuria on the east; and the history of Kashmir ought to be typical of that of Europe and other cool, temperate regions. A glance at the history of the world as a whole shows that this conclusion accords with the facts. The nations of arid regions were highly civilized and powerful in the past: they
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