Title The profits of nature colonial development and the quest for resources in nineteenth-century China Peter B. Lavelle

Published New York Columbia University Press [2020] ©2020

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Description 1 online resource (ix, 288 pages) illustrations, maps Contents Agriculture in an era of crisis -- Geography in a growing empire -- Reclaiming the land -- Promoting profitable crops -- Water in a fertile frontier -- Sericulture in a colonial borderland Summary "In the nineteenth century, the Qing empire experienced a period of profound turmoil caused by an unprecedented conjunction of natural disasters, internal rebellions, and foreign incursions. The imperial government responded to these calamities by introducing an array of new policies and institutions to bolster its power across its massive territories. In the process, Qing officials launched campaigns for natural resource development, seeking to take advantage of the unexploited lands, waters, and minerals of the empire's vast hinterlands and borderlands. In this book, Peter B. Lavelle uses the life and career of Chinese statesman Zuo Zongtang (1812-1885) as a lens to explore the environmental history of this era. Although known for his pacification campaigns against internal rebellions, Zuo was at the forefront of the nineteenth-century quest for natural resources. Influenced by his knowledge of nature, geography, and technology, he created government bureaus and oversaw projects to improve agriculture, sericulture, and other industries in regions across the empire. His work forged new patterns of colonial development in the empire's vast northwest, including Xinjiang, at a time when imperial rivals were scrambling for resources around the globe. Weaving a narrative across the span of Zuo's lifetime, The Profits of Nature offers a new approach to understanding the dynamic relationship between imperial crisis, natural resources, and colonial development during a critical juncture in Chinese history, between the high tide of imperial power in the eighteenth century and the challenges of modern state-building in the twentieth century."-- Provided by publisher Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Peter B. Lavelle is assistant professor of history at Temple University Print version record Subject Zuo, Zongtang, 1812-1885. SUBJECT Zuo, Zongtang, 1812-1885 fast Subject Economic development -- China -- History -- 19th century Natural resources -- Government policy -- China HISTORY -- Asia -- China. Economic development Economic policy Natural resources -- Government policy Politics and government SUBJECT China -- Economic policy -- 19th century China -- Politics and government -- 19th century. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85024166 Subject China Genre/Form History Biographies. Biographies. Form Electronic book LC no. 2019026956 ISBN 9780231550956 0231550952

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