The Research Of Historical Economic Geography Of The Jianghuai Plain In The Qin And Han Dynasties

The Qin and Han Dynasties is the first Unification period of the Chinese history,in this period,the Jianghuai Plain,which is regarded as the transition zone of the north and south,showing some distinctive outlooks of economic geography to us.This paper is based on the former studies of this region,planing to make a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the Jianghuai Plain in the Qin and Han Dynasties from the perspective of Historical Geography.The paper is divided as five chapters,the first chapter illustrates the physical geography background of the Jianghuai Plain,The abundant rainfall and the flat terrain gave a great condition for the development of rice planting,but the poor soil and the spread of the swamps also restricted the progress of the agriculture.The second chapter illustrates the historical economic geography of the Jianghuai Plain in the Qin Dynasty.In this period,the most prominent historical economic geography trait of the Jianghuai Plain is the setting up of counties.The third chapter mainly discusses the progress of the Jianghuai Plain' s agriculture,handicraft industry,cities and transportation in the West Han Dynasty,and the development of the salt and iron industries in the east of the Jianghuai Plain was especially remarkable.The forth chapter illustrates the historical economic geography of the Jianghuai Plain in the East Han Dynasty.In the East Han Dynasty,the social environment of the Jianghuai Plain was turbulent,and region' s development was gradually bogging down.The Yellow Turbans Uprising and the warlord which happened at the end of the dynasty almost ruined the achievement of the four hundred years.In this period,the middle and west part of the Jianghuai Plain got more progress comparing with the east.The last chapter summarizes the spatial pattern of historical geography of the Jianghuai Plain in the Qin and Han Dynasties,and pointing out the great influence of the physical geography background,politics and war during the exploiting history.