The Role of Climate in the Rise and Decline of Civilizations

Right from immediately prior to Holocene era the prevailing climate of the region i.e. in pre-Harappa times had been purely Gulf – type on south-western U.S pattern, clearly non- monsoonal. This was because the peculiar ground conditions essential for a monsoon pattern had been absent owing to 80% or so of Indo-Gangetic plain having been under the sea. In fact the argument of weakening of the monsoons has not been relevant, as their era started only around 3,000 years ago. The development and prosperity of the world's unique civilization was due to stable and optimum rains all the year round. On the contrary, the annual hundred days flood and fury trailing monsoons must have hampered growth of agricultural surplus which had been the backbone of rapid rural settlements and urban infrastructure. Actually monsoons might have proved partly as a destructive agent, rather than supportive factor in the course of Harappa Civilization.