The evolution of Ancient Silk Road(ASR) was deeply influenced by late Holocene moisture changes in Arid Central Asia(ACA). Nevertheless, controversies in Holocene moisture change pattern of ACA and poorly–constrained...The evolution of Ancient Silk Road(ASR) was deeply influenced by late Holocene moisture changes in Arid Central Asia(ACA). Nevertheless, controversies in Holocene moisture change pattern of ACA and poorly–constrained age models of related studies have made the discussion about late Holocene moisture changes in ACA and their influences on the evolution of ASR difficult. Recently, a high–resolution age model during the late Holocene was established for Kalakuli Lake, a small glacier lake located in the core area of ACA. A thorough rock magnetic investigation was carried out on Kalakuli Lake sediments based on this age model. The magnetic mineral assemblage of Kalakuli Lake sediments is still dominated by primary magnetite despite minor diagenetic effects. Comparisons of rock magnetic records to parameters previously used as indicator of glacier fluctuations suggest that clastic input to Kalakuli Lake was high(low) and magnetic grain size is relatively larger(smaller), when glaciers on Muztagh Ata advanced(retreated). The ARM/SIRM ratio, a magnetic grain size proxy, is directly related to lake hydrodynamics, which are ultimately controlled by glacier fluctuations on Muztagh Ata as the result of regional moisture changes. Late Holocene moisture changes indicated by the ARM/SIRM ratio are consistent with cool/wet and warm/dry oscillations indicated by the unweighted average of biomarker hydrogen isotopic data of the C26 and C28 n–alkanoic acids in a previous study about Kalakuli Lake, most moisture change records of the core area of ACA and winter insolation of the Northern Hemisphere, but opposite to Asian monsoon evolution. Given Asian monsoon and the westerlies are mutually inhibited, we propose that late Holocene moisture changes in the core area of ACA were controlled by the intensity of Asian monsoon versus the westerlies under the governance of solar insolation. Generally increased moisture since the late Holocene indicated by the ARM/SIRM ratio favored cultural exchange and integration between the western and the eastern Eurasia, which paved the way for the formation of ASR. Coincidence between significant increase in moisture at ~200 BC suggested by the ARM/SIRM ratio and the formation of ASR indicates moisture as an important factor that facilitated the formation of ASR. The onsets of three prosperity periods of ASR in the history generally correspond to periods when moisture was relatively high, nevertheless, stagnant periods of ASR do not coincide with periods when moisture was relatively low in the core area of ACA. Disorganized correlations between stagnant periods of ASR and moisture changes in the core area of ACA suggest that moisture is not the decisive factor influencing the evolution of ASR.展开更多
The Silk Road Economic Belt is the updated version of regional economy and trade cooperation. It focuses on cooperation and development in energy, providing broad connotation and denotation and space for XinjiangCentr...The Silk Road Economic Belt is the updated version of regional economy and trade cooperation. It focuses on cooperation and development in energy, providing broad connotation and denotation and space for XinjiangCentral Asia to cooperate with each other in energy. Although it has bright prospect, the energy cooperation will still be restricted by the complex environment of Central Asia and the internal factors of Xinjiang, such as its unique economic model and industrial structure. Thus, in order to realize mutually beneficial cooperation, which is the common target of Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang and Central Asia need to strengthen energy dialogue and expand the energy diplomacy, promote the construction process of Xinjiang energy strategy base, establish and perfect the information platform of Central Asia energy cooperation.展开更多
Two centuries ago,Asia delivered over 60 percent of world production;in the middle of the 20th century it was less than 20 percent.Currently,it is twice as large and this share is still increasing,above all but not on...Two centuries ago,Asia delivered over 60 percent of world production;in the middle of the 20th century it was less than 20 percent.Currently,it is twice as large and this share is still increasing,above all but not only,because of China whose production is still growing at a rate twice as fast as the world average.China is trying to maintain high economic dynamics,inter alia,through investment external expansion.This aim is to be served,among others,by the infrastructure project,drawn up with enormous verve,known as the New Silk Road,which the Middle Kingdom addresses to 65 countries on three continents.While some hope for accelerating their own economic growth,others warn against the risk of becoming dependent on China.The article analyzes these challenges,pointing to the desired directions of irreversible evolution globalization by giving it a more inclusive character,which is also strongly emphasized by the Chinese authorities in their official enunciations.展开更多
China＇s relationship with Central Asia has grown manifold since the foundation of Shanghai Five in 1996, which in June 2001 became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The impetus to the relationship has further be...China＇s relationship with Central Asia has grown manifold since the foundation of Shanghai Five in 1996, which in June 2001 became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The impetus to the relationship has further been accen- tuated when China-Russia friendship treaty was signed in July 2001. The US-led war in Afghanistan against Taliban and A1-Qaeda has yet again cemented Chinese position in Central Asia, and the recently concluded Belt and Road Initiative （BRI） has undeniably dramatically underscored the strategic value of Central Asia to the west and has opened up possibilities for Chinese security, political and economic interests. Geostrategically enmeshed with Central Asia, China will remain an integral and increasingly influential player in Central Asia. This research paper contextualises China＇s emergence and interests in Central Asia discarding the much talked about great game thesis and asserts by analysing the rise of China in the region as an unmatched and unchallenged power which has been testified once again with the recent BRI of Beijing.展开更多
This study investigates a cross-seasonal influence of the Silk Road Pattern（SRP）in July and discusses the related mechanism.Both the reanalysis and observational datasets indicate that the July SRP is closely relate...This study investigates a cross-seasonal influence of the Silk Road Pattern（SRP）in July and discusses the related mechanism.Both the reanalysis and observational datasets indicate that the July SRP is closely related to the following January temperature over East Asia during 1958/59–2001/02.Linear regression results reveal that,following a higher-than-normal SRP index in July,the Siberian high,Aleutian low,Urals high,East Asian trough,and meridional shear of the East Asian jet intensify significantly in January.Such atmospheric circulation anomalies are favorable for northerly wind anomalies over East Asia,leading to more southward advection of cold air and causing a decrease in temperature.Further analysis indicates that the North Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies（SSTAs）might play a critical role in storing the anomalous signal of the July SRP.The significant SSTAs related to the July SRP weaken in October and November,re-emerge in December,and strengthen in the following January.Such an SSTA pattern in January can induce a surface anomalous cyclone over North Pacific and lead to dominant convergence anomalies over northwestern Pacific.Correspondingly,significant divergence anomalies appear,collocated in the upper-level troposphere in situ.Due to the advection of vorticity by divergent wind,which can be regarded as a wave source,a stationary Rossby wave originates from North Pacific and propagates eastward to East Asia,leading to temperature anomalies through its influence on the large-scale atmospheric circulation.展开更多
The origins and spread of agriculture was one of the milestones in human history.When and how prehistoric agriculture spread to mainland Southeast Asia is highly concerned,which contributed to the formation of modern ...The origins and spread of agriculture was one of the milestones in human history.When and how prehistoric agriculture spread to mainland Southeast Asia is highly concerned,which contributed to the formation of modern Austroasiatic in this region.Previous studies mainly focused on the time and route of rice agriculture’s introduction into Southeast Asia while millet agriculture was not paid proper attention.Here we analyze 31214C dating data yielded from charred seeds of rice(Oryza sativa),foxtail millet(Setaria italica)and broomcorn millet(Panicum miliaceum)from 128 archaeological sites in China and mainland Southeast Asia.The result shows that millet farming was introduced to mainland Southeast Asia in the late third millennium BC and rice farming was in the late second millennium BC.The agriculture of mainland Southeast Asia might originate from three areas,Southwest China,Guangxi-West Guangdong and coastal Fujian.The spread route of ancient agriculture in Southwest China is close to the“Southwest Silk Road”recorded in literature,which implies there was possibly a channel of cultural exchanges on the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau already in the late Neolithic period,laying the foundation for the Southwest Silk Road later.展开更多
Arid Central Asia(ACA), with its diverse landscapes of high mountains, oases, and deserts, hosted the central routes of the Silk Roads that linked trade centers from East Asia to the eastern Mediterranean.Ecological p...Arid Central Asia(ACA), with its diverse landscapes of high mountains, oases, and deserts, hosted the central routes of the Silk Roads that linked trade centers from East Asia to the eastern Mediterranean.Ecological pockets and ecoclines in ACA are largely determined by local precipitation. However, little research has gone into the effects of hydroclimatic changes on trans-Eurasian cultural exchange. Here,we reconstruct precipitation changes in ACA, covering the mid-late Holocene with a U-Th dated, ~3 a resolution, multi-proxy time series of replicated stalagmites from the southeastern Fergana Valley,Kyrgyzstan. Our data reveal a 640-a megadrought between 5820 and 5180 a BP, which likely impacted cultural development in ACA and impeded the expansion of cultural traits along oasis routes. Instead,it may have diverted the earliest transcontinental exchange along the Eurasian steppe during the 5 th millennium BP. With gradually increasing precipitation after the megadrought, settlement of peoples in the oases and river valleys may have facilitated the opening of the oasis routes, ‘‘prehistoric Silk Roads", of trans-Eurasian exchange. By the 4 th millennium BP, this process may have reshaped cultures across the two continents, laying the foundation for the organized Silk Roads.展开更多
基金We thank Dr.Qi Zhang for her assistance in the laboratory.This work is granted by National Key Research and Development Programme of China(Grant No.2018YFA0606400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41502165 and 41572338)China Scholarship Council(CSC).
文摘The evolution of Ancient Silk Road(ASR) was deeply influenced by late Holocene moisture changes in Arid Central Asia(ACA). Nevertheless, controversies in Holocene moisture change pattern of ACA and poorly–constrained age models of related studies have made the discussion about late Holocene moisture changes in ACA and their influences on the evolution of ASR difficult. Recently, a high–resolution age model during the late Holocene was established for Kalakuli Lake, a small glacier lake located in the core area of ACA. A thorough rock magnetic investigation was carried out on Kalakuli Lake sediments based on this age model. The magnetic mineral assemblage of Kalakuli Lake sediments is still dominated by primary magnetite despite minor diagenetic effects. Comparisons of rock magnetic records to parameters previously used as indicator of glacier fluctuations suggest that clastic input to Kalakuli Lake was high(low) and magnetic grain size is relatively larger(smaller), when glaciers on Muztagh Ata advanced(retreated). The ARM/SIRM ratio, a magnetic grain size proxy, is directly related to lake hydrodynamics, which are ultimately controlled by glacier fluctuations on Muztagh Ata as the result of regional moisture changes. Late Holocene moisture changes indicated by the ARM/SIRM ratio are consistent with cool/wet and warm/dry oscillations indicated by the unweighted average of biomarker hydrogen isotopic data of the C26 and C28 n–alkanoic acids in a previous study about Kalakuli Lake, most moisture change records of the core area of ACA and winter insolation of the Northern Hemisphere, but opposite to Asian monsoon evolution. Given Asian monsoon and the westerlies are mutually inhibited, we propose that late Holocene moisture changes in the core area of ACA were controlled by the intensity of Asian monsoon versus the westerlies under the governance of solar insolation. Generally increased moisture since the late Holocene indicated by the ARM/SIRM ratio favored cultural exchange and integration between the western and the eastern Eurasia, which paved the way for the formation of ASR. Coincidence between significant increase in moisture at ~200 BC suggested by the ARM/SIRM ratio and the formation of ASR indicates moisture as an important factor that facilitated the formation of ASR. The onsets of three prosperity periods of ASR in the history generally correspond to periods when moisture was relatively high, nevertheless, stagnant periods of ASR do not coincide with periods when moisture was relatively low in the core area of ACA. Disorganized correlations between stagnant periods of ASR and moisture changes in the core area of ACA suggest that moisture is not the decisive factor influencing the evolution of ASR.
文摘The Silk Road Economic Belt is the updated version of regional economy and trade cooperation. It focuses on cooperation and development in energy, providing broad connotation and denotation and space for XinjiangCentral Asia to cooperate with each other in energy. Although it has bright prospect, the energy cooperation will still be restricted by the complex environment of Central Asia and the internal factors of Xinjiang, such as its unique economic model and industrial structure. Thus, in order to realize mutually beneficial cooperation, which is the common target of Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang and Central Asia need to strengthen energy dialogue and expand the energy diplomacy, promote the construction process of Xinjiang energy strategy base, establish and perfect the information platform of Central Asia energy cooperation.
文摘Two centuries ago,Asia delivered over 60 percent of world production;in the middle of the 20th century it was less than 20 percent.Currently,it is twice as large and this share is still increasing,above all but not only,because of China whose production is still growing at a rate twice as fast as the world average.China is trying to maintain high economic dynamics,inter alia,through investment external expansion.This aim is to be served,among others,by the infrastructure project,drawn up with enormous verve,known as the New Silk Road,which the Middle Kingdom addresses to 65 countries on three continents.While some hope for accelerating their own economic growth,others warn against the risk of becoming dependent on China.The article analyzes these challenges,pointing to the desired directions of irreversible evolution globalization by giving it a more inclusive character,which is also strongly emphasized by the Chinese authorities in their official enunciations.
文摘China＇s relationship with Central Asia has grown manifold since the foundation of Shanghai Five in 1996, which in June 2001 became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The impetus to the relationship has further been accen- tuated when China-Russia friendship treaty was signed in July 2001. The US-led war in Afghanistan against Taliban and A1-Qaeda has yet again cemented Chinese position in Central Asia, and the recently concluded Belt and Road Initiative （BRI） has undeniably dramatically underscored the strategic value of Central Asia to the west and has opened up possibilities for Chinese security, political and economic interests. Geostrategically enmeshed with Central Asia, China will remain an integral and increasingly influential player in Central Asia. This research paper contextualises China＇s emergence and interests in Central Asia discarding the much talked about great game thesis and asserts by analysing the rise of China in the region as an unmatched and unchallenged power which has been testified once again with the recent BRI of Beijing.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFA0600703)National Natural Science Foundation of China(41505073)
文摘This study investigates a cross-seasonal influence of the Silk Road Pattern（SRP）in July and discusses the related mechanism.Both the reanalysis and observational datasets indicate that the July SRP is closely related to the following January temperature over East Asia during 1958/59–2001/02.Linear regression results reveal that,following a higher-than-normal SRP index in July,the Siberian high,Aleutian low,Urals high,East Asian trough,and meridional shear of the East Asian jet intensify significantly in January.Such atmospheric circulation anomalies are favorable for northerly wind anomalies over East Asia,leading to more southward advection of cold air and causing a decrease in temperature.Further analysis indicates that the North Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies（SSTAs）might play a critical role in storing the anomalous signal of the July SRP.The significant SSTAs related to the July SRP weaken in October and November,re-emerge in December,and strengthen in the following January.Such an SSTA pattern in January can induce a surface anomalous cyclone over North Pacific and lead to dominant convergence anomalies over northwestern Pacific.Correspondingly,significant divergence anomalies appear,collocated in the upper-level troposphere in situ.Due to the advection of vorticity by divergent wind,which can be regarded as a wave source,a stationary Rossby wave originates from North Pacific and propagates eastward to East Asia,leading to temperature anomalies through its influence on the large-scale atmospheric circulation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41901108&41930323)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition(Grant No.2019QZKK0601)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA2004010103).
文摘The origins and spread of agriculture was one of the milestones in human history.When and how prehistoric agriculture spread to mainland Southeast Asia is highly concerned,which contributed to the formation of modern Austroasiatic in this region.Previous studies mainly focused on the time and route of rice agriculture’s introduction into Southeast Asia while millet agriculture was not paid proper attention.Here we analyze 31214C dating data yielded from charred seeds of rice(Oryza sativa),foxtail millet(Setaria italica)and broomcorn millet(Panicum miliaceum)from 128 archaeological sites in China and mainland Southeast Asia.The result shows that millet farming was introduced to mainland Southeast Asia in the late third millennium BC and rice farming was in the late second millennium BC.The agriculture of mainland Southeast Asia might originate from three areas,Southwest China,Guangxi-West Guangdong and coastal Fujian.The spread route of ancient agriculture in Southwest China is close to the“Southwest Silk Road”recorded in literature,which implies there was possibly a channel of cultural exchanges on the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau already in the late Neolithic period,laying the foundation for the Southwest Silk Road later.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFA0606400)he Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB40000000)+5 种基金the 2nd Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (2019QZKK0101)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y201681)partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41888101)the National Social Science Foundation of China (18ZDA172)the National Science Foundation of United States (NSF 1702816, EAR-0908792, and EAR-1211299)a part of the ‘‘Belt & Road” Project of the Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IEECAS)。
文摘Arid Central Asia(ACA), with its diverse landscapes of high mountains, oases, and deserts, hosted the central routes of the Silk Roads that linked trade centers from East Asia to the eastern Mediterranean.Ecological pockets and ecoclines in ACA are largely determined by local precipitation. However, little research has gone into the effects of hydroclimatic changes on trans-Eurasian cultural exchange. Here,we reconstruct precipitation changes in ACA, covering the mid-late Holocene with a U-Th dated, ~3 a resolution, multi-proxy time series of replicated stalagmites from the southeastern Fergana Valley,Kyrgyzstan. Our data reveal a 640-a megadrought between 5820 and 5180 a BP, which likely impacted cultural development in ACA and impeded the expansion of cultural traits along oasis routes. Instead,it may have diverted the earliest transcontinental exchange along the Eurasian steppe during the 5 th millennium BP. With gradually increasing precipitation after the megadrought, settlement of peoples in the oases and river valleys may have facilitated the opening of the oasis routes, ‘‘prehistoric Silk Roads", of trans-Eurasian exchange. By the 4 th millennium BP, this process may have reshaped cultures across the two continents, laying the foundation for the organized Silk Roads.
