Abstract
Technology developments have made significant impacts on both humans and the environment in which they live. However, there is limited whole-of-system understanding of ancient technology development. This paper aims to uncover the evolutionary pattern of the ancient Chinese agricultural technology system that focused on land and water mobilisations from 8000 BC to 1911 AD. Our findings show that agricultural technology in China transitioned through an extremely slow, S-shaped pathway, increasing only ten fold in over 8000 years. The technology system was initially driven by tangible tools (40% of growth), then by technological theories and practices that contributed more than 50% of growth. Its development was spatially inclined to the Yellow River then to the Yangtze River region, where over 45% of technologies were developed. This study provides an empirical baseline for comparative studies between pre-industrial and industrial technologies. Greater understanding of the mechanisms of technology development will be required to reorientate technology development for present and future generations.
Highlights
Technology developments have made significant impacts on both humans and the environment in which they live
This paper aims to uncover the evolutionary pattern of the ancient Chinese agricultural technology system from 8000 BC to 1911 AD from a system perspective
This paper aimed to uncover the evolutionary pattern of ancient Chinese agricultural technologies
Summary
Technology developments have made significant impacts on both humans and the environment in which they live. Greater understanding of the mechanisms of technology development will be required to reorientate technology development for present and future generations. ‘H umans have a history because they transform nature (Godelier, 1986).’ It is through the development and utilisation of technology that humans gain the power of transformation (Fischer-Kowalski and Haberl, 2007). As ‘the past is the key to the present’ (Cracraft, 2006), understanding the historical patterns and trajectories of technology development will facilitate and unwind such complexities, as well as orientate current technology towards sustainable development for current and future generations. Originating between 10,000 and 8000 years ago, agriculture has been considered one of the most important stage developments in human history (Holdren and Ehrlich, 1974). The historical patterns and trajectories of ancient Chinese agricultural technological development will be a suitable mirror when considering a more sustainable technological pathway in the future. Sociological analysis of technology is strong at descriptions and weak at prediction, which shows the challenges for incorporating such knowledge into policy-making and management
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