State formation in early China

"This important new study makes use of an interdisciplinary approach to challenge traditional theories of state formation in China and promote debate on early Chinese history. Analysing data from archaeology, geology, cultural geography, ethnohistory and ancient texts, the authors show how the procurement of key external resources - especially metal and salt - drove the dynamics of state formation in early China in the Period 1800-1400 B.C."--BOOK JACKET.