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The Pulse of Asia : vol.1 |
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degenerated 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 wander-
ing 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 en-
couraged. 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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