Peak-to-peak dynamics in the dynastic cycle

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the peak-to-peak dynamics (PPD) of a three-class model of the Dynastic Cycle in ancient China. While the asymp totic behavior generated by the prey-predator-superpredator structure of th e model was thoroughly studied in an earlier paper [Feichtinger G, Forst CV , Piccardi C. A nonlinear dynamical model for the dynastic cycle. Chaos, So litons & Fractals 1996;7:257-2711, the analysis of the PPD provides new int eresting insights into the properties ofthe system, by yielding a set of re duced models relating the peaks' amplitudes and their return times. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.