Post on 21-Dec-2015
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