Asian Agri-History Vol. 9, No. 4, 2005
281into substantial and reliable surpluses that contributed to the emergence of a larger polity since 2
nd century. The large-scale integrated canal system, together with the
small-scale irrigation works, formed the core of the region’s prosperity. The hydraulic system reached its zenith during its phase II
of urban civilization from the middle of 9
th to the late 13
th century,
to quote Stargardt(1986), who has further observed that the trans-peninsula navigable canal system had its inland navigation increased from 95.7 km in phase I (6
th to 9
th centuries) to 160 km in phase II (9
th to 13
th centuries) and thereby facilitated the local and foreign trade. The available irrigation water was increased from 6.1 million m during phase Ito million m during phase II that contributed to the threefold rise of land under cultivation
(Stargardt, 1986).
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