Decline of the Yangtze River Civilization

Abstract

The decline of certain ancient civilizations is considered to be the ­consequence of a climate deterioration that swept through Eurasia from 4200 to 4000 cal. yr. BP. All of the megalopolises in the Yangtze River basin were abandoned around 4000 cal. yr. BP. It is believed that the cooling and aridification of the ­climate from 4200 to 4000 cal. yr. BP had an enormous impact on the people living in the Yellow River basin, which led to the southern migration of the wheat/barley/millet-cultivating pastoral people. This southern migration and invasion by the northern people ultimately may have caused the collapse of the Yangtze River Civilization, which had subsisted on rice cultivation and fishing. There was another episode of climate deterioration at 3200 cal. yr. BP that had a critical impact on rice dispersal to Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. The rice cultivating piscatory people fled to the seas, departed as boat people for Japan, Taiwan, and some descended the Mekong and other rivers to Southeast Asia.