1. China Develops a New Economy
Chapter 17

2. Words 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

3. 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.

4. Changes 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

5. Changes 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

6. Changes 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

7. The Growth of Trade and Commerce
Tang emperors relaxed restrictions on merchants to promote trade
Rice, silk, tea, jade, and porcelain on trade route to India, Arabia, and Europe

8. The 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

9. 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

10. Characteristics of China’s commercial growth
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

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

12. Urbanization
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

13. Urbanization
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

14. Urbanization 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

15. 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