Maritime Sector, Institutions, and Sea Power of Premodern China

Challenging the stereotype of premodern China as an agricultural nation, this book examines the development of the maritime sector, maritime institutions, and sea power in the premodern era. Initially discussing topics related to China's exports, such as ship design and construction, goods produced solely for export, capital accumulation and investment in the maritime sector, and trade networking, the volume goes on to consider the impact of maritime institutions, governmental trade and non-trade policies, and Confucian attitudes toward maritime activities.
Finally, the book shows how China obtained technological, economic, and naval supremacy in Asian waters until the 18th century and goes on to discuss the reasons for the decline of the maritime sector in the 19th century.

GANG DENG is Lecturer in Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His earlier books include Development Versus Stagnation: Technological Continuity and Agricultural Progress in Pre-modern China (Greenwood, 1993) and Chinese Maritime Activities and Socioeconomic Development, C. 2100-1900 A.D. (Greenwood, 1997).

.,."of most interest to scholars and graduate students working in this field. The lucid and orderly presentation of the data could also be of interest to the serious avocational student of Chinese maritime affairs. I would unhesitatingly recommend the boook to those interested in the subjectm and it should certainsly be acquired by univeristy and college libraries, and the larger public libraries."-The Northern Mariner