Starting with the distinct geomorphological concepts of "highlands" and "lowlands" in the Jiangnan region, this volume examines the evolution of the agricultural hydraulic system, settlement patterns, land recultivation, and administrative divisions in the area east of Taihu Lake between the 11th and 16th centuries.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I, consisting of Chapters 1, 2, and 3, traces changes in agricultural-hydraulic patterns and the development of the commercial economy over 600 years. It also recounts the evolution of Taihu Lake's overall inflow and outflow patterns. Part II, comprising Chapters 4, 5, and 6, builds on Part I, exploring the region's settlement changes and land development beginning in the 13th century. This section covers significant topics, including changes in land tax policy, rural power growth, the grain chief system establishment, market town development, tax equalization reforms, and migrant peasant community formation for land recultivation. Part III, consisting of Chapters 7, 8, and 9, discusses how extensive land enclosure, heavy taxation on official fields, and the flourishing maritime transport system promoted the establishment of new administrative divisions. The chapter focuses on the evolution of these divisions and their relationship with land development in the region, revealing significant changes in the imperial Chinese social and economic landscape.

This book is intended for students and scholars of history, geography, and Asian studies, as well as general readers.