Final answer:
Ancient settlements on the Indian subcontinent were primarily established in river valleys due to the fertile land which was conducive to farming. The Indus Valley Civilization is an example of how these conditions supported large, stable populations and the development of complex societies. Geography, including the availability of fertile soil and water supply from rivers, was crucial to the growth of civilizations in ancient India.
Step-by-step explanation:
Geography played a critical role in where ancient peoples chose to settle, especially on the Indian subcontinent. The subcontinent presented three distinct geographic zones that influenced human settlement patterns. The Indus Valley Civilization, for instance, developed in the fertile river valleys which were ideal for agriculture.
The most accurate answer to the question of how geography affected ancient settlement in the Indian subcontinent is that settlements developed in river valleys that were fertile for farming. This region offered rich soil for cultivation and a steady water supply from the Indus River, which was essential for the growth of crops such as wheat, barley, and millet. These conditions supported the stability of large, sedentary populations and allowed the development of complex societies with religious and civil structures.
Furthermore, the river valleys provided an easier means for transportation, trade, and communication, which are essential for the growth of a civilization. Thus, the early civilizations of the Indian subcontinent, such as the Indus Valley Civilization, thrived due to the fertile land offered by river valleys, which was unlike arid regions where herding was more common or mountain regions which, while offering protection, were not ideal for large-scale agriculture.