在中国历史上，宁夏是开发较早的地区，也是华夏文明的发祥地之一。南部彭阳县姚河村，北部灵武市水洞沟文明，再现了人类早期的发展历史。史书记载与近数十年地下的考古发掘，都一再证实了宁夏在中国历史上的特殊地位。宁夏地方政权建置较早，战国时期已设立县治，纳入秦国版图。宁夏的地理位置所体现的特殊意义，一是六盘山、贺兰山屹立南北，成为关中北上西出的屏障；泾水、清水河南北相连，黄河穿越宁夏平原，这种自然地理的格局，显示了其承载的特殊历史时空。二是以丝绸之路为桥梁和纽带，在与西域、北方草原及其周边的连接层面上，所产生的交融汇聚的作用。从整体空间看，南与秦汉唐政治中枢长安相连，北与北方大草原为邻，西北进入河西走廊，与通往中亚、西亚的丝绸之路大通道相衔接。这种特殊的地域空间，为宁夏历史发展和多元文化的积淀繁荣提供了特殊的环境，创造了独有的条件。(In Chinese history, Ningxia is an early developed region and one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. Civilizations of Yaohe Village in Pengyang County in south Ningxia and Shuidong Ravine in Lingwu City in north Ningxia reproduced the early development history of human. According to the history records and underground archaeological excavations in recent dozens of years, the special status of Ningxia in Chinese history has been confirmed repeatedly. The local authority of Ningxia was established early, during the Warring States Period, county jurisdiction had established and was brought into the territory of Qin. The special meanings of Ningxia's geographic location including: first, Liupan Mountain and Helan Mountain are located at the south and north, which made them became barriers in Guanzhong for going north or west. Jingshui and Qingshui Lake have linked the south to north, with Yellow River passing through Ningxia plain, this kind of natural geography pattern shows the special historical space and time it has been carrying; second, taking the Silk Road as the bridge and link, Ningxia has been playing the role of blend and convergence in aspects of connecting Western Regions, north plains and relevant regions. Viewing from the overall space, the south was connected to the political center Changan in Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties, the north was the neighbor of north plains, the northwest was connected to the Silk Road that led to Central Asia and Western Asia after passed through Hexi Corridor. The special regional space provides special environment for Ningxia's historical development and the accumulation and prosperous of multi-culture and creates unique conditions.)