TY - JOUR AU - Wilkinson, David PY - 2002/11/26 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - The Status of the Far Eastern Civilization/World System: Evidence from City Data JF - Journal of World-Systems Research JA - JWSR VL - 8 IS - 3 SE - General Section DO - 10.5195/jwsr.2002.260 UR - http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/jwsr/article/view/260 SP - 292-328 AB - T. Chandler?s city data are used to inquire whether, and when, East Asia was a world system in itself, or part of a larger Old World world-system; and whether, and when, the east end of the Old World oikumene was more ?advanced? than the west end. On the available data, (1) A.G. Frank?s thesis of a single Old World world-system is less well supported than the thesis of a long coexistence of a plurality of world systems, including a separate Far Eastern system; (2) Frank?s thesis of the general economic lead of ?China? over ?Europe? is supported; (3) there is evidence of an interesting medieval outrunning of the ?west end? by the ?east end? economy, which begs further investigation. ER -