论地理环境对华夏文明的影响——以人口规模性为例

Analysis on the Effect of Natural Geographical Environment upon Chinese Civilization——Taking Population Scale as an Example

自然地理环境与文明有着密切的关联,自然地理环境本身并不是文明,但它却是文明赖以产生的基石,对文明的发生、发展具有一定的物质上的制约力。因此,华夏文明人口规模特性所必需的经济模式、政治制度和价值体系这三个条件的形成直接或间接地受到自然地理环境的制约,并且这个制约作用是贯穿始终的。人口规模在小农经济和宗法制的基础上,在中央集权制度的保障下,以及在儒家思想的维护下得以最终形成。

Natural geographical environment has a close relationship with civilization.It is not only the foundation of civilization but also restricts the development of civilization.The population scale of Chinese civilization entails three prerequisites,namely,economic mode,political infrastructure,and value system,the formation of which is directly or indirectly restricted by Chinese natural geographical environment.This restrictive function has played a key role throughout the whole process.On the basis of small-scale peasant economy and patriarchal clan system,under the protection of a centralized system,and in the maintenance of the Confucianism,the population scale of Chinese civilization are ultimately created.