明末崇禎年間,流寇的活動範圍幾乎遍佈大半個中國,皖北地區是流寇在全國活動範圍的最東邊,由於屏障著東南半壁的經濟命脈,自古即為戰略要地。對明王朝來說,中都鳳陽除了它戰略上的地位之外,更有其皇權象徵的重要意義。為了防禦流寇的入侵,明朝中央和地方採取了何種的防衛措施?其成效和影響為何?是本文所要考察的。另外,值此動亂之際,在地方社會中頗有影響力的鄉紳,扮演了何種功能及角色?而流寇的活動對於皖北社會,又產生了哪些衝擊和影響?亦是本文想要探討的。總之,本文以明末的皖北地區作為探討的主體,來觀察崇禎時期的社會矛盾及民變發展,並探討寇亂對當時社會所產生的廣泛影響,以勾勒出當時的社會圖像以及地方控制的情形。
During the late Ming, the peasant rebellions took violent action all over almost China. The peasants also began their attack on North AN-HUI in 1635. What policies did the Ming government select to adopt in order to defend this area? In addition, what role did the gentry play at this time? Anyhow, I will describe the society situation of North AN-HUI, and discuss the influences caused by the peasant rebellions in North AN-HUI(1634-1644).