It has often been said that the scale of natural phenomena in India and her total dependence on the monsoon, have helped to form the character of her people. Even today, major disasters, such as flood, famine and plague, are hard to check, and in older times, their control was almost impossible. Many other ancient civilizations, such as those of the Greeks, Romans and Chinese, had to contend with hard winters which encouraged sturdiness and resourcefulness. India, on the other hand, was blessed by a bounteous nature, who demanded little of man in return for sustenance, but in her terrible anger could not be appeased by any human effort. Hence it has been suggested, the Indian character has tended to quietism, accepting fortune and misfortune alike without complaint.

Which one of the following civilizations did not have to face hardships due to bad winter?

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