Ancient Central China: Centers and Peripheries along the Yangzi River

Case Studies in Early Societies

by Rowan K. Flad, Pochan Chen

Ancient Central China provides an up-to-date synthesis of archaeological discoveries in the upper and middle Yangzi River region of China, including the Three Gorges Dam reservoir zone. It focuses on the Late Neolithic (late third millennium BC) through the end of the Bronze Age (late first millennium BC) and considers regional and interregional cultural relationships in light of anthropological models of landscape. Rowan K. Flad and Pochan Chen show that centers and peripheries of political, economic, and ritual activities were not coincident, and that politically peripheral regions such as the Three Gorges were crucial hubs in interregional economic networks, particularly related to prehistoric salt production. The book provides detailed discussions of recent archaeological discoveries and data from the Chengdu Plain, Three Gorges, and Hubei to illustrate how these various components of regional landscape were configured across Central China.

Genres: History, China

436 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2012

Reviews

[Lucy Barnhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lucid and thoughtful study of Neolithic and Bronze Age China, carefully explaining methodologies, evidence, and theoretical frameworks. As a non-specialist, I found it both easy to use and informative. I plan on building lectures using it, but not assigning it directly to undergraduates. Selections from it could work well in upper-level courses, however.

[Arthur Rosenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another treasure trove for the kind of research I do.