芜湖在明清江南经济发展中的地位

Position of Whhu in Economic Development of South of Yangtze River in Ming and Qing Dynasties

目前学术界对于明清时期江南边际地区在江南经济发展中作用与地位的研究尚显不足。芜湖地处江南西端,明清时期商业兴盛、手工业发达,是皖江流域和江南的中心——长三角地区沟通的桥梁。此时的芜湖,业已成为位于江南边缘的、服务于长三角地区的次级经济中心。因此以芜湖为个案,来探讨明清时期江南边际地区在江南经济发展中作用与地位具有一定的意义。

Nowadays, the study of the function and position of the South of Yangtze River＇s boundary in its economic development is deficient. Wuhu lies in the west of the South of Yangtze River, and it is the bridge which links up Wanjiang basin and the delta of Yangtze River which is the core of the South of the Yangtze River, because of its prosperous commerce and developed handicraft industryin Ming and Qing Dynasties. Wuhu already became the secondary economic centre which lay the margin of the South of the Yangtze River and served the delta of the Yangtze River. Therefore, it is significant to make a case study on Wnhu to probe into the function and position of the margin of the South of the Yangtze in its economic development.