The location of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, the Himalaya mountains, and the Pacific Ocean significantly influenced early settlement patterns in China by creating geographic barriers, which meant early peoples developed in isolation.
The vast deserts and towering mountains separated these early populations from other civilizations, leading to limited interaction and exchange with neighboring cultures. While trade routes like the Silk Road eventually developed, the initial impact of these natural features was to restrict movement and foster the development of distinct regional cultures and societies. Thus, the correct answer is:
It meant early peoples developed in isolation.