The redefined centre, periphery and margin : the long-term interaction sphere of southern China 3000-221 BC
This thesis investigates southern China as a part of dynamic and extensive interregional networks from the third to the first millennium BC and explores the changing roles of different southern regions within the interregional relationships. This was an important transitional period for southern China as it was the time when several prominent and farreaching innovations of technologies and material culture were made or adopted in the area. Four key sets of materials â rice, bronze, ceramics and jade â are examined with a World-system perspective to reveal interregional contacts in different directions and of different nature between southern China and a number of neighbouring regions. By stressing on local responses towards different technologies and material culture in different period, an alternative narrative to that stemmed from Chinese historiography is, therefore, suggested. Instead of being a passive and 'backward' periphery in the traditional sense, southern China presents diversification of material culture over time. Many of the mechanisms of transmission and circulation in the south are characterised by 'leaked' technologies and designs, as well as 'selective adoption' and local redevelopment
Chen, Yi
History ; Archeology ; Southern China ; Chinese Archaeology ; Core ; Periphery ; Marin ; World-system ; Rice cultivation ; Bronze ; Jade ; High-fired ceramics
The redefined centre, periphery and margin : the long-term interaction sphere of southern China 3000-221 BC. This thesis investigates southern China as a part of dynamic and extensive interregional networks from the third to the first millennium BC and explores the changing roles of different southern regions within the interregional relationships. This was an important transitional period for southern China as it was the time when several prominent and farreaching innovations of technologies and material culture were made or adopted in the area. Four key sets of materials â rice, bronze, ceramics and jade â are examined with a World-system perspective to reveal interregional contacts in different directions and of different nature between southern China and a number of neighbouring regions. By stressing on local responses towards different technologies and material culture in different period, an alternative narrative to that stemmed from Chinese historiography is, therefore, suggested. Instead of being a passive and 'backward' periphery in the traditional sense, southern China presents diversification of material culture over time. Many of the mechanisms of transmission and circulation in the south are characterised by 'leaked' technologies and designs, as well as 'selective adoption' and local redevelopment
redefine centre_periphery margin long_term interaction sphere southern china investigate southern china part dynamic extensive interregional network explore change_role different southern region within interregional relationship important transitional_period southern china time several prominent innovation technology material_culture make adopt area four_key set material rice bronze ceramic examine world system perspective reveal interregional contact different_direction different nature southern china number neighbour_region stress local_response towards different technology material_culture different_period alternative narrative stem chinese historiography therefore_suggest instead passive backward periphery traditional sense southern china present diversification material_culture time many mechanism transmission circulation south characterise technology design well selective adoption local