24th Book Sharing: Ten Lectures on Historical Geography
Upcoming Event
| Item | Details |
| Introduction | This Book Sharing Seminar invites Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kang Jianjun, Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, New Era University College, to facilitate a reading of Ten Lectures on Historical Geography by Shi Nianhai. The book explores major issues in Chinese historical geography through ten thematic discussions, covering climate change, population migration, territorial development, transportation networks, urban evolution, and shifts in economic centers. Students interested in history, geography, literary geography, and cultural studies are warmly encouraged to participate. |
| Facilitator | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kang Jianjun (Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, New Era University College) |
| Reading Material | Shi Nianhai. Ten Lectures on Historical Geography. Wuhan: Changjiang Literature and Art Press, 2020. |
| Book Introduction | Shi Nianhai was one of the founders of modern historical geography in China. Ten Lectures on Historical Geography brings together the essence of his scholarly achievements. Through ten thematic discussions, the book examines fundamental issues in historical geography, including climate, population migration, territorial scale, transportation, urban transformation, and economic development.With meticulous scholarship, extensive historical sources, and rigorous analysis, Shi reconstructs the geographical development and evolution of ancient China. His work has made a significant contribution to the establishment and advancement of historical geography as an academic discipline.Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kang Jianjun, born in 1978, is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Yellow River Studies, Liaocheng University. He holds a PhD in Historical Geography and serves as a supervisor for both master's and doctoral students. His teaching and research focus primarily on cultural geography and related fields. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, New Era University College. He has authored several monographs and textbooks, led more than 30 research projects, and published over 40 academic papers. |
| Seminar Information | Date: 18 June 2026 (Thursday)Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM *Please scan the QR code and complete registration by 17 June 2026 (Wednesday). Zoom login details will be emailed to registered participants. |
Book Sharing Postscript
On 18 June 2026, the Institute of International Education of New Era University College (NEUC) held its 24th Book Sharing Session via Zoom. The session invited Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kang Jianjun, Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of NEUC, to guide participants through Shi Nianhai’s classic work, Ten Lectures on Historical Geography.
Centered on the theme of “How history enters geography, and how geography explains history,” the session encouraged participants to revisit the development of Chinese history from the perspectives of space, environment, and regional transformation. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kang first introduced Shi Nianhai’s important role in the establishment and development of modern historical geography in China. He pointed out that Ten Lectures on Historical Geography connects the core issues of ancient Chinese historical geography through ten thematic lectures. The topics covered include differences between ancient and modern climates, population migration, the territorial scale of dynasties, capital construction and urban evolution, transportation routes during the Spring and Autumn period, the economic development of the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Delta, Hexi and Dunhuang, as well as the ecological imbalance of the Loess Plateau. Through these key themes, readers are able to observe the complex interactions among the natural environment, political power, transportation networks, and economic regions.
During the sharing session, he emphasized that historical geography is not merely a description of landscapes, geographical features, or the evolution of place names. Rather, it uses rich historical materials and a spatial perspective to analyze the formation of population movements, regional development, and patterns of civilization across different historical periods. Drawing on his own research experience in cultural geography, he also explained that historical geography can provide important methodological insights for literary geography, cultural studies, and regional social research.
The session not only broadened students’ understanding of historical geography but also demonstrated the value of the Book Sharing Session as a platform for interdisciplinary reading and academic exchange.
