Chinese Australia?

Yes I think the Perth area should do nicely for an early wheat based economy. It will be pre-industrial agriculture of course, but we're not feeding a population of 20 million here. It's seems a fair argument that early colonization of Australia is a much better bet with wheat than rice.

So you want the South Chinese to bypass the places in Southeast Asia that are underpopulated and grow rice, and then adopt northern European crops (which are suited North China's climate, not Western Australia's quasi-Mediterranean climate), and settle? Why would they do that?
 
The problem: Their fleets would probably arrive in the north, which isn't the most appealing place on Earth.

It DOES happen in the Ming TL from Gurps AE 2. They settle the defeated Mongols there and call it Nanhai.
 
It has often been argued that Confucian China was not inclined to overseas trade and colonization, but I think they could well change their mind had the Ming voyages continued.

The Ming had an unique aristocratic inheritance system. Not only was it non-primogeniture, but younger sons of aristocrats maintained their titles in addition to land. Over time the number of aristocrats snowballed, the government ran out of land to distribute to them and started confiscating private property to keep the institution going.

It wouldn't be long before the Ming rulers realized the enormous money making potential of the Spice Islands. What started out as peaceful diplomatic voyages would inevitably lead to trade and then colonization. A group of Ming aristocrats could essentially take over the role of the Dutch before the Dutch even got there, selling pepper and nutmeg to the Arabs and eventually Europeans when they round the Cape.

Over time, and perhaps in search of sea cucumber and sandalwood, this trade empire could expand to Australia as well.

This Ming empire would be far wealthier, more maritime oriented, and more aware of the Islamic and European world. But when they eventually collapse it's going to leave rather large successor states in SE Asia and Australia.
China can grow the Spices in Southern China..so they don't need to colonize.
 
So you want the South Chinese to bypass the places in Southeast Asia that are underpopulated and grow rice, and then adopt northern European crops (which are suited North China's climate, not Western Australia's quasi-Mediterranean climate), and settle? Why would they do that?

The Chinese grow both rice and wheat. Settlers from central China would bring winter wheat to plant, which incidentally is the same type grown in the Mediterranean and modern Australia. I'm not suggesting they bypass SE Asia at all, more of continued expansion.

http://www.spectrumcommodities.com/education/commodity/maps/wheat/chiwht.gif

China can grow the Spices in Southern China..so they don't need to colonize.

Taking a native crop and transplanting it elsewhere for commercial exploitation was not something done until recent centuries. Individuals would sometimes try and succeed, but you're talking about transplanting an entire industry involving very large cost and risk. This is why the Dutch took over the Banda Islands instead of bothering to plant spices closer to home.
 
Top