By DU Xian-bing

FULL TEXT IN CHINESE

( School of History，Capital Normal University，Beijing 100089)

Abstract: In Before European Hegemony， Janet Abu-Lughod reconstructs a premodern world trade system. The thirteenth-century world trade system is a trade network covering mainly the Eurasian continentbetween 1250 and 1350． Its successful operation is attributed to favorable sea and land routes，advanced trade institutions，trade diasporas’practices，the spread of science and technology，and balanced development of each sub-system． Research on the system and its operational mechanism contributes to understanding objectively the reasons for the rise of the West and a comprehensive overview of the trans-regional interactions and cross-cultural exchanges in premodern times．

Key words: Janet Abu-Lughod; Before European Hegemony; thirteenth-century world trade system; operational mechanism