China Develops a New EconomyChapter 17

Words to knowWords to know

• Economy – a system of managing the wealth and resources of a community or region.

• Commerce - the buying and selling of goods

• Urbanization – the growth of cities

• Harrow –a farm tool used to break up and even out plowed ground

• Chain pump – a pump with containers attached to a loop of chain to lift water and carry it where it is wanted

• Barge – a long boat with a flat bottom

• Currency – the form of money used in a country

Did You Know?Did You Know?

• Song period was a time of great prosperity– Changes in agriculture (rice)– Trade and economy– Urbanization (growth of cities)

• Marco Polo first saw China during the Song dynasty– Impressed with the boat travel

(Yangtze)

• We will learn how changes in agriculture, trade and commerce and urbanization, made China so prosperous.

Changes in agricultureChanges in agriculture

Reasons for agricultural changes

Farmers moved to the fertile basins of the Chang Jiang – wars caused them to go south – wet lands covered most of Chang valley

Improved rice in 11th century resistant to drought and matured in 2 months

New and improved farm methods – plow and harrow – fertilizer and chain pump – terracing

Changes in agricultureChanges in agriculture

Characteristics of new agriculture

Lots of small farms and terraces with rice paddies with elaborate irrigation systems

Water buffaloes pull plows and harrow

Rice plants need to transplant then 2 months later harvest by hand

Also grew tea, cotton, and sugar

Changes in agricultureChanges in agriculture

Result of agricultural changes

Increased food production

Helped support larger populations

Peasants could make silk, cotton cloth or other products to sell or trade

Market surplus rice

Tang emperors relaxed restrictions on merchants to promote trade

Rice, silk, tea, jade, and porcelain on trade route to India, Arabia, and Europe

The Growth of Trade and CommerceThe Growth of Trade and Commerce

Reasons for growth Wealthy land owners wanted

luxuries Commerce helped by water

transportation Cheaper and faster – barge – 45

miles a day vs. 25 miles a day Improvement in navigation

helped increase overseas trade Improved compass (Chinese

invention), navigational charts and diagrams

Had copper coins but ran out of copper – so started issuing paper money this spurred the growth of commerce

The Growth of Trade and CommerceThe Growth of Trade and Commerce

Characteristics of China’s commercial growth

Lots of barges loaded with rice and other goods on the water ways (sailed, rowed, or pushed with long poles)

Oxcarts and pack animals on the roads and over bridges

Peasants coming to town sell surplus crops and animals

Small shops and street peddlers Deposit shops – where people exchange strings of copper and

paper money Government controlled amount of paper money available

Threatened to cut off heads of counterfeiters. In harbors on East coast loading silk, ceramics, sugar and rice

wine in junks Sails made out of bamboo will return loaded with indigo,

spices, silver, ivory and coral

Characteristics of China’s commercial growth

Results of growth in trade and commerce Growth of merchant class Increased prosperity Many commercial centers

UrbanizationUrbanization Rich landowners, merchants, traders, moneylenders

and visiting peasants

Signs identify the goods sold in each shop (silk, silver, pearls, food items, fans, lacquerware, porcelain etc.

Musicians, jugglers, acrobats, and puppeteers

UrbanizationUrbanization Theaters, restaurants, wine shops, teashops and food

vendors

Young girls with bound feet (small feet considered to be beautiful – but caused discomfort in walking This was a decline in the status of women

UrbanizationUrbanization Results of urbanization

Changed way people lived Vibrant centers of activity Buying and selling Hobbies and board games Public works projects Stimulated culture, artists had an

audience for wealthy, leisured people

Paintings from Song dynasty some of best in the world

Summary Summary Changes in agriculture, trade and commerce, and urbanization

during the Song dynasty

Center of Chinese culture shifted from north to south South climate good for growing rice Rice became most important crop

New rice seed and improvement in farming methods increased production Helped support larger population Landowners had money to buy luxuries which stimulated growth of

commerce

Commerce was helped with a network of rivers and canals Improvements in navigation made overseas trade easier. Traders and merchants supplied goods people wanted to buy Paper currency helped business grow

Commercial activity contributed to the growth of cities

Merchants, peasants, peddlers, and traders sold all kinds of goods

Highest standard of living in the world