Changes

Excavations have also uncovered [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] and [[Northern Song Dynasty]] coins, as well as Song and [[Yuan Dynasty]] Chinese trade ceramics in considerable numbers in Ryûkyû, indicating considerable commercal contact from a relatively early time. [[Richard Pearson]] argues that these trade ceramics were so plentiful as to not be luxury items in Ryûkyû, but rather that they were used by common people alongside indigenously-made [[Ryukyuan pottery]]. The import of coins seems to have reached a peak in the Northern Song ([[960]]-[[1127]]), and then to have declined considerably in the 13th century.<ref>Geoffrey Gunn, ''History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000-1800'', Hong Kong University Press (2011), 218-219.</ref>

Excavations have also uncovered [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] and [[Northern Song Dynasty]] coins, as well as Song and [[Yuan Dynasty]] Chinese trade ceramics in considerable numbers in Ryûkyû, indicating considerable commercal contact from a relatively early time. [[Richard Pearson]] argues that these trade ceramics were so plentiful as to not be luxury items in Ryûkyû, but rather that they were used by common people alongside indigenously-made [[Ryukyuan pottery]]. The import of coins seems to have reached a peak in the Northern Song ([[960]]-[[1127]]), and then to have declined considerably in the 13th century.<ref>Geoffrey Gunn, ''History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000-1800'', Hong Kong University Press (2011), 218-219.</ref>

The 10th-11th centuries saw considerable technological and commercial developments in [[Song Dynasty]] China ([[960]]-[[1279]]), along with various concurrent developments in [[Heian period]] Japan. Interactions between China, Japan, and the Ryukyus increased, and migrants between the three regions introduced the cultivation of rice, wheat, barley, and other crops, and the raising of livestock into the Ryukyus.<ref name=pear1/> Though the original inhabitants of the islands may have been more purely of an ethnic stock similar to that of the [[Ainu]] or the [[Jomon period|Jômon people]], from at least the late first millennium CE, if not earlier, Okinawans began to more closely resemble mainland Japanese ([[Yamato people]]), an indication of considerable exchange and interaction between Japan and the Ryukyus and, perhaps, a significant number of migrants from Japan settling in the Ryukyus.<ref name=pearson149>Pearson, 149.</ref>

The 10th-11th centuries saw considerable technological and commercial developments in [[Song Dynasty]] China ([[960]]-[[1279]]), along with various concurrent developments in [[Heian period]] Japan. Interactions between China, Japan, and the Ryukyus increased, and migrants between the three regions introduced the cultivation of rice, wheat, barley, and other crops, and the raising of livestock into the Ryukyus.<ref name=pear1/> Though the original inhabitants of the islands may have been more purely of an ethnic stock similar to that of the [[Ainu]] or the [[Jomon period|Jômon people]], from at least the late first millennium CE, if not earlier, Okinawans began to more closely resemble mainland Japanese ([[Yamato people]]), an indication of considerable exchange and interaction between Japan and the Ryukyus and, perhaps, a significant number of migrants from Japan settling in the Ryukyus.<ref name=pearson149>Pearson, 149.</ref> As one scholar has written, “the bearers of Gusuku culture expanded within the whole Ryukyu Archipelago, and preexisting foragers, who were few, simply died out or were assimilated without leaving a significant trace.”<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 34, quoting Thomas Pellard, "The Linguistic Archaeology of the Ryukyu Islands," in Patrick Heinrich, et al (eds.), ''Handbook of the Ryukyuan Languages'', 31.</ref>

The people of the various islands, over the course of time, formed up into complex societies, generally taking the form of chiefdoms. This took place on Okinawa beginning around 1050 CE, and was accompanied by changes in patterns of subsistence and agriculture. Then, beginning around 1200-1250 CE, up until the 1420s, the island became embroiled in considerable violence, as local elites built fortresses called ''[[gusuku]]'' and fought one another for land and power. Trade activity also expanded considerably at this time. Archaeologist [[Richard Pearson]] identifies these two periods (c. 1050-1250, and c. 1250-1429) as the "Early" and "Late Gusuku Periods," while many other scholars simply lump the two together as the [[Gusuku period]] of Okinawan history. This is also the period when the Ryûkyû Islands begin to appear more frequently in foreign sources (mainly Chinese ones, such as the ''[[Ming shi-lu]]'').<ref>Pearson, 146-147.</ref> The [[Mongol Empire]] ([[Yuan Dynasty]]) is believed to have invaded Ryûkyû twice, in [[1291]] and [[1296]], or perhaps to have simply requested tribute;<ref name=chan89/> Ryukyuan official histories indicate the Mongols were repelled both times.

The people of the various islands, over the course of time, formed up into complex societies, generally taking the form of chiefdoms. This took place on Okinawa beginning around 1050 CE, and was accompanied by changes in patterns of subsistence and agriculture. Then, beginning around 1200-1250 CE, up until the 1420s, the island became embroiled in considerable violence, as local elites built fortresses called ''[[gusuku]]'' and fought one another for land and power. Trade activity also expanded considerably at this time. Archaeologist [[Richard Pearson]] identifies these two periods (c. 1050-1250, and c. 1250-1429) as the "Early" and "Late Gusuku Periods," while many other scholars simply lump the two together as the [[Gusuku period]] of Okinawan history. This is also the period when the Ryûkyû Islands begin to appear more frequently in foreign sources (mainly Chinese ones, such as the ''[[Ming shi-lu]]'').<ref>Pearson, 146-147.</ref> The [[Mongol Empire]] ([[Yuan Dynasty]]) is believed to have invaded Ryûkyû twice, in [[1291]] and [[1296]], or perhaps to have simply requested tribute;<ref name=chan89/> Ryukyuan official histories indicate the Mongols were repelled both times.