The Archaeology of Han China
The Archaeology of Han China
The Han Dynasty, which ruled from 202 BCE to 212 CE, is often taken as a reference point and model for Chinese identity and tradition. Covering a geographical expanse comparable to that of the People's Republic of China, it is foundational to understanding Chinese culture and politics, past and present. This volume offers an up-to-date overview of the archaeology of the Han Empire. Alice Yao and Wengcheong Lam study the period via an interdisciplinary approach that combines textual and archaeological evidence. Exploring the dynamics of empire building in East Asia, Yao and Lam draw on recent archaeological discoveries to recast Western Han imperialism as a series of contingent material projects, including the organization of spatial orders, foodways, and the expansion of communication and ritual activities. They also demonstrate how the archaeology of everyday life offers insights into the impact of social change, and how people negotiated their identities and cultural affiliations as individuals and imperial subordinates.
- Presents Chinese concepts and historiographic materials using standardized English translations and paraphrasing, allowing readers to understand technical ideas without linguistic or regional background
- Includes detailed maps and illustrations to complement the narrative in each individual chapter
- Organizes Han imperial geography into a core and periphery framework throughout the entire volume, enabling readers to select case studies based on their regions of interest
Product details
February 2025Paperback
9781316636435
370 pages
253 × 179 × 20 mm
0.81kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part I. Imperial Geography:
- 1. Imperial geography of the capital and core macro-regions
- 2. Imperial geography and border formations in the Ordos and Lingnan regions
- Part II. Food Production and Foodways:
- 3. Crop production in the Guanzhong Basin
- 4. Crop production in the Yellow River valley and the New Territories
- Part III. Crafts:
- 5. Craft production and consumption in the capital and Yellow River Macro-regions
- 6. Craft production and consumption in the Hexi and Lingnan regions
- Part IV. Death Ritual:
- 7. The (un)dead and the role of ritual in the crafting of sociopolitical networks
- 8. Mourning practices and the cultivation of selves – views from the Hexi, Ordos, and Lingnan.
