Empire and Environment in the Making of Manchuria

Since the seventeenth century, Chinese, Japanese, Manchu, Russian, and other imperial forces have defied Manchurias unrelenting summers and unforgiving winters to fight for sovereignty over the natural resources of Northeast Asia. Until now, historians have focused on rivalries between the regions imperial invaders. Empire and Environment in the Making of Manchuria examines the interplay of climate and competing economic and political interests in the regions vibrant and violent cultural narrative. In this unique and compelling analysis of Manchurias environmental history, contributors demonstrate how geography shaped the regions past. Families that settled this borderland reaped its riches while at the mercy of an unforgiving and hotly contested landscape. As Chinas strength as a world leader continues to grow, this volume invites exploration of the indelible links between empire and environment and shows how the geopolitical future of this global economic powerhouse is rooted in its past.