State Formation in Early China / Edition 1

by Li Liu, Richard Hodges, Xingcan Chen

Overview

This important new study makes use of an interdisciplinary approach to challenge traditional theories of state formation in China and promote debate on early Chinese history. Analysing data from archaeology, geology, cultural geography, ethnohistory and ancient texts, the authors show how the procurement of key external resources - especially metal and salt - drove the dynamics of state formation in early China in the period 1800-1400 BC.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780715632246
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/23/2003
Series:	Debates in Archaeology
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Li Liu is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Xingcan Chen is Professor at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China, and Visiting Professor at Harvard University, USA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
List of Figures
Introduction
1. Early States: Theoretical Models and Applications
2. Searching for the Early State in China: Erlitou
3. The Natural Landscape: Resources and Transport Routes
4. The Erlitou State: Centralization and Territorial Expansion
5. Erligang State Centralization: The Core
6. Erligang State Expansion: The Periphery
7. The Political-Economic Landscape of Early
States: Modelling Centre-Periphery Relations
Notes
Bibliography
Glossary
Index