TTLA: “Sources” in regional relations of Central Vietnam in the 16th - 19th centuries (case study of Cam Lo - Quang Tri)

1. Full name of PhD student: Vu Thi Xuyen 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: November 27, 1988 4. Place of birth: Hanoi
5. Decision to recognize PhD students: Decision to recognize PhD students No. 3618/2018/QD-XHNV dated December 4, 2018
6. Changes in training process (if any):
7. Thesis topic: “Sources” in regional relations of Central Vietnam in the 16th - 19th centuries (case study of Cam Lo - Quang Tri)
8. Major: World History
9. Code: 9229010.03
10. Scientific advisor: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
1. Purpose and research objects of the thesis
The purpose of the thesis is to analyze and clarify the constituent elements of the “Source”, the relationship with the “Source” region in the East-West trade network of Central Vietnam in the 16th - 19th centuries. From the study of the formation process, operating mechanism, and development of the “Source”, we use it as a basis to study the case of “Cam Lo Source” in Quang Tri province today.
The thesis focuses on analyzing the formation, development and operation of the "Source" with two basic elements: the Inspectorate - an agency representing the state government, with the task of collecting taxes from lowland merchants when trading on the land of the Highlanders; and the Trading Market - a source market, a meeting place for the Highlanders and the Lowlanders, to freely exchange and trade; secondly, examining the "Source" in the East-West trade system, the thesis clarifies the political and economic relationships with the region that were established by the central government in these centuries.
In the case study of “Cam Lo Source”, the thesis focuses on explaining the key position of Cam Lo on the trade route with mainland Southeast Asian countries in the west and seaports in the east. Cam Lo is a “Source” market, a gathering place for goods from regional markets such as Laos, Siam (northeast)… before being brought to the market in the plains and the final destination is the trading activities at the seaport. The thesis has placed “Cam Lo Source” in close connection with the upstream and downstream markets, thereby clarifying the flow of goods and the participation of ethnic groups in East-West trade activities in these centuries.
Looking at the formation, development, and conflicts surrounding the issue of tax collection at "Cam Lo Source", as well as the decline of Cam Lo under the Nguyen Dynasty, partly shows the overall picture of the "Source" in Central Vietnam in the Middle Ages, thereby opening up more specific perceptions about the prosperous foundations of many commercial centers in the ports of the Central region in the 16th - 19th centuries.
Research object: of that topic is the constituent elements, the operation method of the "Source"; and the relationship of the "Source" with the regional market, specifically the "Cam Lo Source".
2. Research methods used
The main research method used in the thesis is the historical scientific research method. In addition, the thesis uses the comparative method, the structural system method and especially the interdisciplinary research method.
3. Main results and conclusions
3.1. Main results
The thesis is the first research work on the role of “Source” in the economic system and regional relations of Central Vietnam in the medieval period. Understanding the formation and development of “Source” helps us explain the foundation of prosperity of Dang Trong in the 16th - 18th centuries, as well as many economic and social issues in the Central region under the Nguyen Dynasty.
The thesis is also the first work to specify and clarify the contents of the formation and operating mechanism of the "Source" in the Central Highlands. Focusing on the Customs Department and the Transaction Market, the thesis has contributed to clarifying the contribution of the "Source" tax and the benefits from the Source Market in relation to the domestic and regional markets.
Studying the case of Cam Lo, the thesis has shown the connection of the “Source” with the commercial centers on the other side of the border, and with the downstream area. This not only affirms the important position of the upstream and downstream trade activities which are typical of Thuan - Quang region, but also shows the close relationship of the Central region with the regional trade network.
The thesis also contributes to clarifying a part of the picture of the relationship between ethnic groups, cross-border trade relations, migration issues, and the reclamation of the Central Highlands under the Nguyen Dynasty. These results contribute to clarifying many issues of Vietnamese society in the 19th century.
In terms of materials, by thoroughly exploiting information sources from Chau Ban documents, the thesis has contributed to affirming and concretizing the important position of this source of materials in the study of political, economic and social history of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty.
3.2. Conclusion
During the 16th and 19th centuries, the Nguyen government controlled East-West trade activities, the most important trading activity in the Central region, through the “Nguyen” system. The two elements of the Nguyen were: the Inspectorate and the Trading School, which played an important role in collecting taxes from lowland merchants trading in the highlands and controlling free trade activities between the upper and lower reaches.
Research on the formation of the “Source” in the Central region has shown that the “Source” is never independent or isolated but always within the trade network between the plains and the mountains. In particular, two conditions stand out for the formation of the “Source” in the upper region. One is that the “Source” must be supported by a rich source of commodities from the western mountains; Two is that it must be located at the intersection of the trade route connecting the plains and the mountains.
From the case of “Cam Lo Source”, it can be seen that, with its location at the crossroads connecting roads and rivers, this is the ideal place for the convergence of goods from the western mountains such as precious wood, beeswax, ivory, rhino horn, buffalo, horse… and goods from the plains such as metal utensils, porcelain, salt, fish sauce… Placed in the trade system between the Central coast and mainland Southeast Asian countries, it can be seen that there would be no bustling commercial activities in Cam Lo if there were no cross-mountain trade route from Lao Bao down to Cua Viet. With its geographical location very close to Cua Viet port in the east and on the trade route connecting to the sea of ​​Laos, Cam Lo soon became a source market converging goods from the highlands and coastal areas.
Research on “Cam Lo Source” has shown that the collection of “Cam Lo Source” taxes had been established since the Nguyen Lords’ time, and by the Nguyen Dynasty, tax collection activities here had been regulated much more strictly and specifically. This also shows that the organization of “Cam Lo” tax collection in the 19th century received special attention from the Nguyen Dynasty. This was considered one of the central tasks of the central government.
3.2. Further research directions:
Based on the research achievements of previous scholars, the thesis opens up a research direction on the “Source” system in the Central region economy in the medieval period. Examining the conditions of formation, operation, state management methods and the collapse of this economic model contributes significantly to explaining the prosperity of foreign trade in Dang Trong in the 16th - 19th centuries, as well as the position of economic connection between the plains and the mountains under the Nguyen Dynasty.
The study of “Source” in the economic system of the Central region also contributes to clarifying the relationship with the region of the Central region in the 16th - 19th centuries. This continues to affirm the important position of the Central region in the role of a bridge, an intermediate market of the Southeast Asian region as well as Northeast Asia. Besides the economic relationship, political and social issues also took place very diversely and richly during this period.
Economic, social and cultural exchanges between the sea and the mainland are a traditional and long-standing relationship in the Central region. The thesis continues to affirm the role of these economic links, besides opening up a research direction on social relationships surrounding the “Source” system, contributing to explaining many social issues of the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century.
13. Publications related to the thesis:

 

Officical thesis title: “Sources” in regional relations of Central Vietnam in the 16th - 19th centuries (case study of Cam Lo - Quang Tri province)

Research purposes:
This thesis focuses on analyzing the establishment, development, and functioning of “Source” with two fundamental components: the Department of Patrolling - a state agency representing the government responsible for taxing merchants from the downstream regions engaged in trade within the land of the upper region, and the Trading School - an upstream market and meeting point for various tribes from the Upper and Downstream regions to engage in free trade. Furthermore, it investigates “Sources” within the East-West trading system, elucidating the political and economic relations with the regions established by the central government during these centuries.
Regarding the case study of “Cam Lo Source” this thesis places significant emphasis on interpreting Cam Lo's position along the commercial route connecting mainland Southeast Asian countries to the west and seaports to the east. Cam Lo serves as an “Upstream market”, a convergence point for regional trade with neighboring areas such as Laos, Siam (Northeastern region), before reaching the downstream market and eventually engaging in commercial activities at the seaports. The thesis establishes the close linkage of “Cam Lo Source” with the upstream and downstream markets, aiming to elucidate the flow of goods and the participation of various tribes in East-West trade during this period.
By examining the formation, development, and conflicts surrounding the issue of taxation at “Nguyen Cam Lo”, as well as Cam Lo's decline during the Nguyen dynasty, the thesis briefly illustrates the overall picture of “Source” in Central Vietnam during the medieval period, thereby providing a more concrete understanding of the prosperous foundations of various commercial centers in the port cities of Central Vietnam during the 16th to 19th centuries.
Research objectives: The thesis focuses on the constitutive factors, the method of existence, and the operation of the “Source” within the trading network between the lowland and highland areas of Central Vietnam. It also explores the link to the regional market, with a specific case study centered on Cam Lo, Quang Tri province.
Research methods
The main research method of thesis is the historical scientific research method. In addition, the thesis has used comparative methods, structural system methods, and especially interdisciplinary research methods.
Major results and conclusions
3.1. The major results
The thesis is the first study on the role of the “Source” in the economic system and regional relations of Central Vietnam during the medieval period. Understanding the formation and development of the “Source” helps explain the prosperous foundation of Dang Trong during the 16th to 18th centuries, as well as various economic and social issues in the Central region under the Nguyen dynasty.
The thesis also presents the formation and operational mechanisms of the “Source” in the Central Highlands. By focusing on the Department and Transaction School, the thesis clarifies the contribution of the “Source” tax and the benefits from the Watershed Market in relation to the domestic and regional markets.
Through the study of the Cam Lo case, the thesis demonstrates the connection between the “Source” and the trading centers across the border and the downstream regions. This not only reaffirms the significant position of the trading activities both upstream and downstream, which is a typical characteristic of Thuan - Quang region, but also shows the close relationship of the Central region with the regional trade network.
The thesis also contributes to illustrating a part of the picture of the relationship between ethnic groups, cross-border trade relations, immigration issues, and the re-assessment of the central mountainous region conducted under the Nguyen dynasty. These results explain some issues of Vietnamese society in the nineteenth century.
In terms of materials, by thoroughly exploiting information from Chau Doc documents, the thesis affirms and specifies the crucial position of these sources in the study of Vietnam's political, economic, and social history under the Nguyen dynasty.
3.2. Conclusions
In the 16th - 19th centuries, the Nguyen clan controlled East-West trade activities, the most important trading activities in the Central region, through the “Source” system. The two factors of the “Source” are: Department of patrol and Exchange have played an important role in collecting taxes on lowland traders conducting commercial activities in the highland area and controlling free trade between upstream and downstream region.
The study of the formation of “Source” in the Central region has shown that “Source” is never independent and isolated, but always in the trade network between the plains and the mountains. This research also indicates that it has two conditions that are especially prominent to form “Source” in the upland area, the first is that “Source” must be supported by abundant commercial resources from the western mountains; Second, it must be on the intersection of the trade route connecting the plains and the mountains.
From the case of “Cam Lo Source”, it has been shown that, with its location at the crossroads of the connection between the mountain route and the river, this place is an ideal place for the convergence of goods from the western mountains, and from the plain. With a geographical location very close to Cua Viet port in the East and on the trade route connecting to the sea of ​​Laos, Cam Lo soon became a converging source of trade for highland and coastal products.
Research on “Cam Lo Source” has shown that the tax collection from Cam Lo, which was established by the Nguyen lords, to the Nguyen Dynasty, tax collection activities here were much more closely and specifically regulated. This also shows that the organization of the collection of source tax in the 19th century was paid special attention by the Nguyen Dynasty. This is considered one of the tasks at the core of the central government.

Based on the inheritance of research achievements by previous scholars, this thesis opens up avenues for research into the “Source” in the Central Vietnamese economy during the medieval period.
An examination of the conditions for its formation, operation, state management mechanisms, and the collapse of this economic model contributes significantly to the understanding of the prosperity of Dang Trong's foreign trade in the 16th to 18th centuries, as well as the economic connectivity between the lowlands and the mountains under the Nguyen dynasty.
Research on the “Source” in the Central Vietnamese economy also sheds light on its relationship with the area during the 16th to 19th centuries. This further affirms the significant role of the Central region as a bridge and intermediary market in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Alongside economic relations, political and social issues unfolded during this period.
Economic, social, and cultural exchanges between the sea and continental realms have been longstanding and traditional in the Central region. The thesis continues to emphasize the role of these economic connections while also paving the way for research into the social relationships surrounding the “Source”, contributing to the understanding of various social issues during the 19th century Nguyen dynasty.