The book argues that the Little Ice Age, a period of extreme cold and drought, severely impacted agriculture, leading to food shortages, economic instability, and ultimately the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. The author emphasizes that while other factors like governance and corruption played roles, the climatic challenges were a fundamental and often overlooked cause of the dynasty's fall.
Europe's agricultural system, based on wheat, was more resilient to cold and dry conditions compared to China's rice-based system. Wheat requires less water, making it more suitable for the wet-cold climate of Europe, while rice, which needs significant water, struggled in China's dry-cold conditions during the Little Ice Age.
The Ming Dynasty's government attempted to stabilize grain prices by intervening in the market, such as releasing grain from state reserves during shortages. However, these interventions often disrupted market dynamics, leading to price volatility and discouraging production, which worsened economic instability.
The Ming Dynasty faced severe financial constraints due to agricultural failures caused by the Little Ice Age. This lack of resources made it difficult to sustain military campaigns against rebellions, allowing uprisings like Li Zicheng's to grow rapidly as desperate peasants joined due to famine and economic hardship.
The book challenges the traditional 'moral failure' narrative, which blames the fall of the Ming Dynasty on corrupt officials and weak emperors. Instead, it highlights the critical role of environmental factors, particularly the Little Ice Age, in creating conditions that made the dynasty's collapse inevitable, regardless of governance.
The six major crisis periods, or 'muddy periods,' identified in the Ming Dynasty are the Yongle, Jingtai, Jiajing, Wanli (divided into Wanli I and Wanli II), and Chongzhen periods. These were marked by severe climatic challenges, economic instability, and agricultural failures, culminating in the dynasty's collapse during the Chongzhen period.
The Little Ice Age was a global phenomenon that impacted agriculture, economies, and societies worldwide. While China struggled with rice production, Europe's wheat-based agriculture fared better due to its resilience to cold and dry conditions. This climatic event influenced the trajectories of many civilizations, highlighting the interconnectedness of global history.
🧀本集圖書:卜正民《價崩》🧀本集成員:黄麒达、陳沛文
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#芝士份子#EP194#價崩