Description
Book SynopsisThis book analyzes the role of Đại Việt (Vietnam) in the maritime Asian trading network of the thirteenth through the eighteenth centuries as it systematically integrates the results of archaeological investigations.
The first half of the book consolidates reports from excavations conducted at Vân Đồn and Phố Hiến, trading ports of Đại Việt, incorporating sophisticated archaeological techniques distinctive of Japan in the presentations of the data. These are accompanied by precise scale drawings, detailed classifications, and quantitative analyses of unearthed artifacts.
The latter half of the book discusses the materials discovered in archaeological investigations, specifically ceramics and coins, in terms of the relations among sites and networks of production, distribution, and consumption, from a broader Asian geohistorical perspective. To this end, the diplomatic policies and trading activities of each era in Vietnam are discussed, integrating the results of archaeological investigations with studies of historical documents.
Expanding beyond Vietnam, results of the archaeological investigations in other maritime Asian countries, such as Japan, Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines, are introduced, to inform a comparative study that combines all such data from both archaeology and history in a single volume as materials for broader discussion. This book is expected to contribute to international academic discourse on the history of maritime Asia and help open a new phase of scholarly endeavor in this field.
Trade Review“This book is a great contribution to the collection of documents (especially the less updated sources between Vietnam and the outside and vice versa), providing new important archaeological findings and the analysis of some key issues of maritime trade during the twelfth eighteenth centuries in North Vietnam. The English version of the book will reach more Vietnamese and international readers, thus having great academic value.” (Lien Thi Le, Journal of Maritime Archaeology, Vol. 18 (1), 2023)
“The monograph … is a valuable contribution to the field of Maritime History. … This wonderful book is a well-grounded study of Vietnam’s maritime trade. Scholars interested in the issue of long-distance trade, world system theory and international relations before European hegemony will find the book especially useful and insightful. … this is a superb work that deserves more attention in the wider world.” (Georgi Asatryan and Jack Kalpakian, International Journal of Maritime History, Vol. 35 (1), 2023)
Table of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. Ceramic Production in Đại Việt.- 3. Archaeological Investigations in the Vân Đồn Region.- 4. Archaeological Investigation of Phố Hiến.- 5. Trade from the Lý to Trần Dynasties.
