Global Commodities and Cultural Contact - Wille: Commodity Chains

This collection of twenty essays provides an unprecedented overview of Chinese trade through the centuries, highlighting its scope, diversity, complexity, and the commodities that have linked it with Southeast Asia.

The collection examines the historical evolution of modern food supply chains, showing how farms, processing, distribution, and retail systems developed. Case studies—from meat and seafood to refrigeration and shopping habits—highlight the institutional, technological, and cultural forces shaping today’s food networks.

Chapter 9: Commodities and Markets