| Variable | Definition |
|---|---|
| Polity | The Seshat Polity ID |
| Year(s) | The years for which we have the data. [negative = BCE] |
| Tag | [Evidenced, Disputed, Suspected, Inferred, Unknown] |
| Verified | A Seshat Expert has approved this piece of data. |
| Variable | Definition |
|---|---|
| bridge | The absence or presence of bridge for a polity. |
| # | Polity | Year(s) | Bridge | Description | Edit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 |
(Hmong - Early Chinese) |
Full Year Range of Hmong - Early Chinese is assumed. [1895, 1941] |
present |
Chinese anthropologists report a variety of bridges in the area: 'Bridges. - The bridge in the Miao area involve considerable construction work. On important communication roads, they generally built three or five-arch bridges (Illus. 11) on which were built houses for hotels and restaurants for the convenience of travelers. Places where a river is wide and shallow are spanned by long bridges (Illus. 22, 23). Places where a river is wide and deep are crossed by rope bridges (Illus. 24). In small streams which are narrow and have sandbanks they sat up stone steps, customarily called ho shui ch'iao /“bridge enclosing the water”/ (Illus. 25), or they build small bridges (Illus. 26) over them.' §REF§Ling, Shun-sheng, Yifu Ruey, and Lien-en Tsao 1947. “Report On An Investigation Of The Miao Of Western Hunan”, 71§REF§ Some mission stations devised bridge construction schemes: 'The mountain community of Shimenkan (Stone Gateway) in northwestern Guizhou served as the headquarters of church activity. In addition to its own large primary school, it offered secondary schooling and teacher training. At least thirty Hua Miao continued on and graduated from university in the decades before 1949. Some of these became ordained Methodist ministers or doctors and one became a well-regarded anthropologist (Yang Hanxian). Generally the local chapels were served by lay preachers who were trained at Shimenkan. Other young people received training as nurses and agricultural extension workers. At various points in time, agricultural and industrial extension programs were held at Shimenkan. New strains of potatoes were introduced, fruit orchards were planted on the hillsides of many villages, vegetable gardens were encouraged, and a number of Miao learned the techniques of carpentry, brickmaking, and masonry. More efficient looms were designed for home production of cloth. During the prerevolutionary decades, some villages benefited from collective endeavors to build bridges and roads, and pipe systems that brought water into the community. Teams of medical workers, from Shimenkan or from the churchaffiliated hospitals in nearby Zhaotong City, traveled around the area periodically. Even those who were not interested in becoming church members participated in the economic innovations, accepted treatment from the medical workers, and sent their children to the schools.' §REF§Diamond, Norma 1993. “Ethnicity And The State: The Hua Miao Of Southwest China”, 68§REF§ | |
| 52 |
(Jin Dynasty) |
Full Year Range of Jin Dynasty is assumed. [1115, 1234] |
present |
e.g. Marco Polo Bridge | |
| 53 |
(Great Ming) |
Full Year Range of Great Ming is assumed. [1368, 1644] |
present |
e.g. five bridges of the Meridian Gate across the Golden Water River §REF§(Tsai 1996, p.35)§REF§ | |
| 54 |
(Northern Wei) |
Full Year Range of Northern Wei is assumed. [386, 534] |
present |
Constructed by Monasteries §REF§(Bol, Peter. North China Workshop 2016)§REF§ | |
| 55 |
(Sui Dynasty) |
Full Year Range of Sui Dynasty is assumed. [581, 618] |
present |
Army engineers constructed pontoon bridges to cross the Liao River in 612 CE.§REF§(Xiong 2006, 56)§REF§ | |
| 56 |
(Western Han Empire) |
Full Year Range of Western Han Empire is assumed. [-202, 9] |
present |
§REF§(Keay 2009, 146)§REF§ | |
| 57 |
(Yangshao) |
Full Year Range of Yangshao is assumed. [-5000, -3000] |
unknown |
Unknown. Wooden bridges? | |
| 59 |
(Shuar - Colonial) |
Full Year Range of Shuar - Colonial is assumed. [1534, 1830] |
present |
According to SCCS variable 14 'Routes of Land Transport' only ‘1’ or 'unimproved trails' were used for land transport, not roads. Rivers were negotiated by canoe or raft: 'The most important means of transportation along the upper Marañón and its tributaries is the canoe (Fig. 8). One could even say that this dug-out is the only means of transportation since there are only a few isolated overland paths.' §REF§Brüning, Hans H. 1928. “Travelling In The Aguaruna Region”, 74§REF§ 'The canoe appears in several sizes. Some accomodate only one to two people, others up to twenty men. All of them are made of cedar wood. Whether small or large, they all have the same shape. The part that touches the water is round in cross-section just as the original tree. At both ends flat seats for the oarsman were provided when the canoe was dug out. The canoe is directed by means of paddles, but on upstream voyages long bamboo poles (tanganas) are required, and with their help the boat is pushed forward. Should the river bank be flat, some Indians may jump into the water to pull the canoe with the help of lianas.' §REF§Brüning, Hans H. 1928. “Travelling In The Aguaruna Region”, 74§REF§ 'Another means of transportation in the river area is the raft (balsa). It can be used for downstream voyages only and is therefore not so frequent. It is made by uniting several balsa trunks. The rafts are kept within the current by means of paddles.' §REF§Brüning, Hans H. 1928. “Travelling In The Aguaruna Region”, 74§REF§ The Shuar crossed even broad rivers swimming: '“The Jibaros, when they are about to cross a broad river swimming, are in the habit of swallowing a fish-sound before they enter the water. In this way, they believe, they will be able to float on the water and swim as easily as a fish.' §REF§Karsten, Rafael 1935. “Head-Hunters Of Western Amazonas: The Life And Culture Of The Jibaro Indians Of Eastern Ecuador And Peru”, 453p§REF§ Reiss also reports liana bridges: 'The six or seven houses which make up the village of Paira (1,617 meters) lie two short days of travel farther down in the valley. The foot of the steep mountains has been reached here; only elongated hills continue to the east. The rivers, still rapid, to be sure, become broad and even navigable for short stretches; an immense forest area stretches out before one's eyes. Up to here we found the brooks, which were difficult to cross, bridged over, although the liana bridges, serving as a model for our suspension bridges, sometimes offered crossings which appeared dangerous. Farther down, however, the rivers had to be waded, for the Jesuits, in order to make access to their mission more difficult, had pulled down the bridges formerly present and had taken the canoes used for ferrying into Mácas into their own custody.' §REF§Reiss, W. (Wilhelm) 1880. “Visit Among The Jivaro Indians", 6§REF§ | |