Lesson 11: Ecological History of Asia: Advanced Cultivation to the Little Ice Age

Lesson 11: Ecological History of Asia: Advanced Cultivation to the Little Ice Age

Amy DurayEVPP 490 003

March 15, 2010

Increasing Populations

• Asian Population trends• By 1100, 5 cities in China with populations in excess of

1 million people. • Growth: – China: Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) 55-60 million. Ming

Dynasty (1368-1662) 108 million. Qing Dynasty (1644-1844) 150 million

– Japan: 0CE: 1 million. 13th century: 7 million. 16th century: 10 million 18th century: 30 million.

• Mingling – expansion of trade and the Mongol Invasion

Intensifying Rice Agriculture

• Increased adaptation of rice species• Import of SE Asian rice allow for double-

cropping• Terracing• Paddy rice• Irrigation• Fertilization

Ecological Impacts (1 of 2)• As dependence on agriculture increases, most of the

population moves to the alluvial plain and away from the mountainous areas unsuitable for agriculture. This pattern of inhabitation remains to this day.

• The expansion in population increases dependence on rice agriculture, leaving less time (and less natural habitat) for foraging activities

• Population growth meant expansion into woodlands that had once provided foraging supplements and firewood and were not well-suited to rice cultivation without intensive irrigation.

Ecological Impacts (2 of 2)

• Hydrologic changes and increased erosion• Water withdrawals for agriculture• Wildfires• Overfishing near coastal cities

Increasing Importance of Trade

• Greater yield allows for greater “urban-village” populations

• Labor differentiation• Mining• Technological Transfer

Mongol Empire and the Silk Road

Climate’s Role

• Medieval Warm Period - 750-1250 CE• AD1300 Event• The Little Ice Age – 1350-1800 CEhttp://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002300/a002319/a002319.mpg

Impact of the Little Ice Age

• Many cultures in the Pacific Rim experience food stress during the conclusion of this period, some events resulting in societal breakdown. – Agricultural output declines in China during the Qing dynasty,

population growth slows dramatically– 1700-1846, stagnating population growth in Japan– Korea – similarly stagnant population and economy from 16th

century until the colonial period– Decreasing agricultural yields in Insular SE Asia– Widespread war among the Champa, Viet and Khmer peoples

in Mainland SE Asia

Mongolia• Nomadic Pastoralism develops• Agriculture in environmentally suitable locations• Horse technology• Banner system following the fall of the Mongols and the

arrival of Qing rule• Degradation of grazing lands is centered around human

concentrations. Banner authorities decrease livestock in response to degradation. Chief degradation effects are wind and water erosion in areas where vegetation has been removed by overgrazing and soil compaction by hoof activity.

Conclusion

• What’s next?– Colonialism– Industrial Revolution– Post War