PROF YIJIE ZHUANG: The Origins of Hydraulic Societies in China [Research Talk]
| Dates: | 19 November 2024 |
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| Times: | 17:00 - 18:30 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Manchester China Institute |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, External researchers, Adults, Alumni, Current University students, General public |
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Join us for an in-person talk with Prof Yijie Zhuang l to learn more about the origins of hydraulic societies in prehistoric China.
ABOUT THE TALK:
The rapid accumulation of archaeological and environmental data has allowed us to revisit some fundamental problems and salient characteristics of Chinese history. In particular, the archaeology of water offers a unique lens for understanding labour organisation, governance structures, and social evolution in ancient China. In this talk, I will present findings from our recent archaeological and palaeo-environmental studies at the late-prehistoric Liangzhu and Pingliangtai sites in Central and South China. These results shed light on the complex and diverse interactions between water, environment, and society across different prehistoric regions. While Wittfogal’s proposition on the central importance of large-scale irrigation systems to the rise of coercive power in ancient China remains informative, it fails to consider the variegated environmental foundations and diverse cultural and economic institutions between different regions, which gave rise to complex patterns of social governance, technologies, and labour coordination.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Prof Yijie Zhuang obtained his PhD in archaeology from Cambridge University and is now as Associate Professor in Chinese archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. He is primarily interested in ancient water-management systems and agricultural histories of China and South East Asia and has published many peer-reviewed articles and he has recenetly been surveying at an Iron Age site in Myanmar. He is also the author of "24 Hours in Ancient China: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There".
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS:
The Manchester China Institute (MCI) promotes multidisciplinary research, teaching and programming with impact beyond academia, seeking to remedy class, racial, gender, and other inequalities, and to improve mutual understanding in UK-China relations. The MCI is based at the University of Manchester.
Venue accessibility: Please note that you must use the stairs to access the venue. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this.
Travel and Contact Information
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Boardroom
Oddfellows Hall
Manchester
