Tigers, Rice, Silk, and Silt

Challenging the conventional wisdom of Western environmental historians, this book examines the correlations between economic and environmental changes in the southern imperial Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi (a region historically known as Lingnan, "South of the Mountains") from 1400 to 1850. Marks discusses the impact of population growth on land use patterns, the agro-ecology, and deforestation; the commercialization of agriculture and its implications; the impact of climatic change on agriculture; and the ways in which the human population responded to environmental challenges.

Robert B. Marks wears many hats, only one of which is a Stetson - he is a writer, editor, researcher, publisher, independent historian, and teacher. He has degrees in Mediaeval Studies, English Literature, and War Studies. He is the author of Diablo: Demonsbane, The EverQuest Companion, Garwulf's Corner, An Odyssey into Video Games and Pop Culture, and co-author of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Agora. In his spare time, he has done everything from make mead to historical swordfighting to rockhounding.He lives in the area of Kingston, Ontario, with his wife and two children.

'This work is a breath of fresh air in terms of the approach that uses the interaction between environment and economy to examine historical change in Lingnan. Well researched, clearly written and strongly argued, it raises new questions and opens the possibility of further research into and comparisons with the history of environment and economy in other parts of imperial China.' The Journal of Peasant Studies