人类所在地球表面的一个显著特征,即自然资源在空间分配上的不均衡性。古往今来,不同的自然环境制约着人类的生产方式和生存方式,也造就了形形色色的地域文化。在生产力欠发达的古代,人类主要的、有时甚至是唯一的活动就是物质资料的生产,这种地域性的经济活动在人类早期的文明化过程中扮演了重要角色。《书·洪范》:“八政。一曰食,二曰货。”可见,从很早起,人们就意识到人类的生存对物质资料生产的依赖关系。物质资料的生产是有地域性的。一般来说,供养我们人类日常生计的一般资源主要来自人们各自生活的区域,而盐、铁及玉料等一些能够产生财富的特殊资源却不是任何地区都能轻易得到的。为了获取这些资源,人们大多要依赖贸易和交换,有时甚至不惜发动战争进行掠夺。 A distinctive feature of the Earth’s surface on which mankind is located is the disproportionate distribution of natural resources in space. Since ancient times, different natural environments have restricted the mode of production and way of life of mankind, and have created all kinds of regional cultures. In the ancient times when the productive forces were underdeveloped, the major and sometimes the only activity of mankind was the production of material data. Such regional economic activities played an important role in the early civilization of mankind. “Book · Hongfan”: “Eight government. One said food, two goods.” Visible, from very early on, people realized that the survival of human dependence on material production. The production of material information is geographical. Generally, the general resources that support the daily livelihoods of our human beings come mainly from the areas where people live. However, some special resources that can generate wealth such as salt, iron and jade are not readily available in any area. In order to access these resources, most people depend on trade and exchange, sometimes at the expense of wage war.