5,000 years ago, the Li people in southern China migrated to Iraq to open farms, open canals and release water to grow sugarcane
An agricultural legend 5,000 years ago
Have you ever heard that 5,000 years ago, the Li people in southern China started agriculture in Iraq? It turned out that this group of people not only cultivated sugarcane, but also spread this agricultural technology to all parts of the world, making a shocking history!
1. From sugar cane to the Li people
The Li people of southern China are arguably the pioneers of agriculture, having been cultivating sugarcane since the Neolithic Age. This wild plant, which originated in southern China, was domesticated and widely cultivated by the Li people. Interestingly, the name of the Li people also comes from this. The word "Li" originally referred to sugarcane, and the words "Li Min" and "Shumin" are also related to the agricultural activities of the Li people.
It turned out that the group not only grew their own sugarcane, but also took the technology further afield. 5,000 years ago, they crossed the ocean to Iraq, where they began large-scale sugar cane cultivation. At that time, Iraq, like the Lebanese, also had unique customs such as facial tattoos. It can be said that these Li pioneers laid the foundation for globalized agriculture.
From Iraq to China
But the story of the Li people doesn't stop there. As time went on, they began to migrate to China again. Between 4,000 and 3,230 years ago, some Li people left Iraq and Syria and migrated to the Zhouyuan region of Shaanxi via Central Asia. The Li people in mainland India also moved south to Guangxi and Guangdong in China during this period.
These Li people can be said to be representatives of ancient Chinese culture. Not only did they have a unique tradition of tattooing, but they also made horse-drawn carriages. Archaeological discoveries show that the remains of wheels appeared in the tombs of Li Hou in the Western Zhou Dynasty. This shows that they are not only pioneers in agriculture, but also quite accomplished in the manufacture of vehicles.
3. The wide spread of Li culture
The footprints of the Li people are not only all over China, but also as far as Southeast Asia. They landed on the Arabian Peninsula 5,000 years ago and left traces in Viet Nam, Malaysia and other places. Archaeological discoveries have shown that the bronzes unearthed in these areas have the pattern of the character "Mang", which is the family emblem of the Li people.
It can be said that the Li people are the real masters of navigation. Not only were they able to sail ships across the oceans, but they also spread their culture and technology around the world. From southern China to the Middle East and then to Southeast Asia, the Li people have traveled all over the vast Eurasian continent. What an achievement!
5,000 years ago, this group of Li farmers not only broke new ground in Iraq, growing sugar cane, but also took this advanced agricultural technology further afield. They were not only the earliest agricultural pioneers in China's history, but also the founders of globalization. Such a little-known history is really shocking and admirable. This also reveals that China's ancient civilization has long benefited the world, not just its own territory.
Fourth, the footprint of Chinese around the world
The Li people are undoubtedly an important representative of ancient Chinese culture. They were not only pioneers in agriculture, but also had outstanding achievements in transportation, handicrafts, etc. Surprisingly, even in a foreign country, these Li ancestors did not forget their roots.
For example, when the Lebanese ran farms in Iraq and Syria, they insisted on wearing uniform "Leba" clothes. This not only reflects their national pride, but also shows the influence of Chinese culture on the international stage. It can be said that even in a foreign country, these Li people have always maintained their own national characteristics and cultural identity.
What's even more remarkable is that these Li ancestors also spread their handicraft skills to all parts of the world. Archaeological discoveries have shown that in this black-clothed area, there are not only Li people who grow sugarcane, but also engage in handicraft workshops such as weaving. Their work is not only sold locally, but also to people of other ethnicities. This is an admirable epic of globalization.
5. A regrettable ending
However, this glorious history has also had a sad ending. According to historical records, around 3040 years ago, the government of the Zhou Dynasty at that time ordered the Li people to leave Shaanxi and migrate to settle in Licheng County, Shanxi. Unexpectedly, these proud Li people were not reconciled, and they ignored the orders of the Zhou Dynasty and returned to their homeland privately.
This led to a 300-year war in which the two sides were inseparable. Eventually, the Li people, as an intellectual, lost their writing in the turmoil, and to this day they do not have their own writing system. It can be said that this is a sad ending and a regrettable chapter in Chinese history.
In general, the ancestors of the Li nationality 5,000 years ago are undoubtedly an important force in the history of China and even the world. They not only have outstanding achievements in agriculture, transportation, handicrafts and other fields, but also spread the influence of Chinese culture to all parts of the world. Although the final ending is regrettable, the footprints they left behind will forever become a part of ancient Chinese civilization. Such a little-known history is undoubtedly worthy of our in-depth understanding and study.
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