Land Reclamation in the Rhine and Yangzi Deltas: An Explorative Comparison, 1600–1800

In the early sixteenth century, the deltas of Rhine and Yangzi faced comparable ecological crises, but neither of these riverine societies was deterred by the mounting challenges. They independently developed divergent ways to not only defend against the encroaching water, but also reclaim new land...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fudan journal of the humanities and social sciences 2019-09, Vol.12 (3), p.423-455
Main Authors: Xu, Guanmian, Blussé, Leonard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Economics
Original Paper
Philosophy
Social Sciences
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Summary:In the early sixteenth century, the deltas of Rhine and Yangzi faced comparable ecological crises, but neither of these riverine societies was deterred by the mounting challenges. They independently developed divergent ways to not only defend against the encroaching water, but also reclaim new land from the water. This paper aims to examine the factors in the making of that transformation in these two riverine societies and to ask how they took different paths, why, and what were the implications of that divergence. In asking these questions, particular attention will be paid to the significance of technological and institutional breakthroughs in the Dutch case, such as highly efficient windmills for pumping water, the mapping of cadastral surveys with triangulation, the centralization of power in the local water boards ( heemraden ), and the involvement of the financial market. In the Chinese case, we focus on the importance of the developing domestic market, the relationship between state and society in local water management, and the formation of unique local land reclamation organizations.
ISSN:1674-0750
2198-2600
DOI:10.1007/s40647-018-0223-1