The Multi-wave Development of Ancient Water Management in Xinjiang: Ecological Adaptation, Technological Transmission, and Trans-regional Exchange

The Multi-wave Development of Ancient Water Management in Xinjiang: Ecological Adaptation, Technological Transmission, and Trans-regional Exchange

Speaker: Associate Professor Li Yuqi (School of History, Nankai University)

Host: Associate Research Fellow Meng Qi (Center for Archaeological Sciences, Sichuan University)

Abstract:

Situated deep in the hinterland of the Eurasian continent, Xinjiang, despite its extremely arid climate, has long served as a crucial hub for East-West exchange, nurturing diverse and complex regional cultures in the process. The formation of this historical role is inseparable from the sustained support provided by water management technology for agricultural production and daily life. However, scholarly understanding of the regional development process of this key technology in Xinjiang has long remained limited. By systematically reviewing research findings from the past century, particularly the new archaeological evidence that has continuously emerged in recent years, this lecture attempts to provide a comprehensive summary of the evolution of agricultural water management in Xinjiang from 2000 BCE to 1300 CE. Furthermore, it will explore the profound impact of hydraulic development on regional social structures and the patterns of exchange across Eurasia.

Time: January 9, 2026, 10:00–12:00 AM

Venue: Conference Room 518, Zone 2, Liberal Arts Building, Jiang'an Campus, Sichuan University