论气候变迁与中原文明中心地位的形成

新石器时代晚期到夏商时期是中国古代文明形成的关键时期,大体经历了由无中心向以中原为中心转变的"多源一统"过程。究其原因当有多种,气候变化是其中的一个重要方面。由于各地区的地理、环境和气候特点的不同,它们对气候变化的反应也不尽相同。干旱和半干旱地区在气候暖湿的时期发展较快,而湿润地区则在气候冷干的时期适宜发展。位于干旱地区的文明在长期冷干的气候条件下衰落了,位于湿润地区的文明在极端暖湿的气候时期中断了,唯有中原地区位于半干旱半湿润地区,适应极端气候的能力较强,不仅在暖湿时期发展较快,而且在冷干时期仍能持续发展,最终成为全国文明的中心。

The period from the late Neolithic Age to Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties is a crucial stage in the formation of the ancient Chinese Civilization. Generally, it went through a change from the no center to centre around the Central China. There are many reasons to this phenomenon, climate change may be a important aspect. Because of the differences of position, environment and climate, the reactions to the climate change varies with different regions. The civilization in the arid and semiarid regions develops more quickly in the warm and wet period, but the civilization in the wet regions grows more quickly in the cold and dry period. The civilization in arid regions came down in the warm and wet, and the civilization in wed regions broke off in the cold and dry. Only the Central China stand the semiarid and semi - wed regions, with a quality of accommodating to climate changes, not only developed quickly during the warm and wet period, but also kept up the pace during the cold and dry period, and became the center of Chinese ancient civilization finally.