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Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State

Author

Listed:
  • Kung, James Kai-sing
  • Özak, Ömer

    (Southern Methodist University)

  • Putterman, Louis
  • Shi, Shuang
Abstract
We propose and test empirically a theory describing the endogenous formation and persistence of mega-states, using China as an example. We suggest that the relative timing of the emergence of agricultural societies, and their distance from each other, set off a race between their autochthonous state-building projects, which determines their extent and persistence. Using a novel dataset describing the historical presence of Chinese states, prehistoric development, the diffusion of agriculture, and migratory distance across 1-degree x 1-degree grid cells in eastern Asia, we find that cells that adopted agriculture earlier and were close to Erlitou -- the earliest political center in eastern Asia -- remained under Chinese control for longer and continue to be a part of China today. By contrast, cells that adopted agriculture early and were located further from Erlitou developed into independent states, as agriculture provided the fertile ground for state-formation, while isolation provided time for them to develop and confront the expanding Chinese empire. Our study sheds important light on why eastern Asia kept reproducing a mega-state in the area that became China and on the determinants of its borders with other states.

Suggested Citation

  • Kung, James Kai-sing & Özak, Ömer & Putterman, Louis & Shi, Shuang, 2022. "Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State," EcoEvoRxiv z4krh, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:ecoevo:z4krh
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/z4krh
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Ting & Kung, James Kai-sing, 2022. "War shocks, migration, and historical spatial development in China," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • F50 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - General
    • F59 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Other
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    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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