Events

Chinese Ceramics in Archaic Globalisation

Ran Zhang of Durham University explores the role of Chinese ceramics in the Indian Ocean trade within the broader framework of archaic globalisation, focusing on maritime networks linking China with the Persian Gulf, East Africa, and South Asia (8th–19th centuries). In this Quantitative History Webinar, he will examine how Chinese ceramics became global commodities, facilitated by specialised production centres and strategic trade routes, and contextualises these exchanges within major economic and political shifts, including the decline of Indo-Roman trade, Sasanian and Abbasid maritime dominance, and Ming-era connections with the Arabian Gulf. Through case studies of the Hormuz Kingdom and Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah, UAE) in the Gulf, this presentation highlights their role as key Gulf entrepôts in the trade and distribution of Chinese ceramics. Archaeological evidence, particularly in the contexts of agricultural and population expansion, economic activities, and manufacturing industries, reveals the integration of these sites into global trade networks. By combining archaeological and historical evidence, his research provides insights into how Chinese ceramics shaped economic and cultural interactions in the premodern world.

Discussant: Bin Yang, Professor of History, City University of Hong Kong

Date: April 3, 2025

Time: 16:00 – 17:30
16:00 (Hong Kong/Beijing/Singapore)
04:00 (New York)|01:00 (Los Angeles)|09:00 (London)|17:00 (Tokyo)|19:00 (Sydney)

Venue: Zoom Webinar

Language: English

The Quantitative History (QH) Webinar Series aims to provide researchers, teachers, and students with an online intellectual platform to keep up to date with the latest research in the field, promoting the dissemination of research findings and interdisciplinary use of quantitative methods in historical research. The QH Webinar Series, now entering its fifth year, is co-organized by the Centre for Quantitative History at the HKU Business School and the International Society for Quantitative History in partnership with the Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences. The Series is now substantially supported by the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. [AoE/B-704/22-R]).

量化歷史網上講座系列由香港大學陳志武和馬馳騁教授聯合發起，旨在介紹前沿量化歷史研究成果、促進同仁交流，推廣量化方法在歷史研究中的應用。本系列講座由香港大學經管學院量化歷史研究中心和國際量化歷史學會承辦，及香港人文社會研究所全力支持。從2023年開始，系列得到中國香港特別行政區研究資助局卓越學科領域計劃的重要資助 (項目編號[AoE/B-704/22-R])。

Conveners:
Zhiwu Chen
Chicheng Ma