China Develops a New Economy

Changes in Agriculture, 17.2 Crops were grown on terraced hillsides Chain pumps were used for irrigation Water buffaloes pulled plows Rice plants begin to grow in seedbeds Rice growing took a lot of work by many people Rice was transplanted to paddies Other Possible Answers: Cotton, sugar, tea, mulberry trees were grown A new kind of fast growing, drought resistant rice was grown Improved plants and harrows used

List four reasons agriculture changed in China during this time period Farmers move south, a good region for growing rice A new type of rice was introduced Improved plow and harrow were introduced Farmers fertilized their crops

Growth of Trade and Commerce, 17.3 Good were moved along canals on barges Junks were used for trade with foreign countries Peasants sold surplus crops, animals, and goods they made at home Oxcarts and pack animals moved products along road Small shops lined streets and bridges People used paper money and traded in copper coins at deposit shops Other Possible Answers: Indigo, spices, silver, ivory, and coral were imported

List four reasons commerce developed in China during this time period There was a vast system of rivers and canals Improvements in navigation made long sea voyages easier Wealthy landowners demanded more goods Paper currency helped trade

Urbanization, 17.4 Other Possible Answers: Cities were crowded and exciting Many types of people lived in the cities Signs identified the many goods being sold There were theaters and outdoor entertainers Urban women had less status than rural women Chinese cities were the largest in the world Other Possible Answers: Restaurants, wine, and tea houses provided food and drink Vendors sold food from trays on their head Silk, silver, fans, and other items were for sale

List two reasons for urbanization in China during this time period People came to cities to trade as commerce increased Large landowners and the wealthy moved to cities because they preferred the shops and social life there

Critical Thinking Task: Place the following statements on the PowerPoint in the boxes to show which happened first, second, and so on, creating a flowchart in which each event caused the next. -Landowners wanted to spend money on luxury items -Large cities developed -A new type of rice allowed farmers to plant at least two crops of rice per year -Small traders brought more luxury items to local markets -Rice production increased -Landowners became wealthier

The Correct Order Is… A new type of rice allowed farmers to plant at least two crops of rice per year Rice production increased Landowners became wealthier Landowners wanted to spend money on luxury items Small traders brought more luxury items to local markets Large cities developed