Development of China in the Middle Ages

In the centuries mentioned, one can speak of a process of rapid urban growth. The urban population is increasing, accounting for more than 10% in the southern regions, and a new type of city appears-the trade and craft posad (zhen). In large cities, such as Kaifeng, Changsha, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, there were more than half a million people, and the population of Hangzhou to the end of the Sung had about 1.2 million. An important change in urban life was the abolition of closed, enclosed steppe quarters. Thanks to this, trade in addition to the market covered and city streets, In the city handicraft trade there were still shops.

They became even more detailed and more numerous than before. But their character changed little: they remained under the strict control of the authorities, performed fiscal functions, enshrined the internal inequality of various categories of workers. Development of China in the Middle Ages ....

Trade grew rapidly: in the second half of the eleventh century. Its volume increased by about 1/3. At the same time, a number of new features are observed: trade activity in connection with the foreign policy situation is increasingly moving to the southeast of the country, large merchant companies are appearing, the trade assortment is expanding, trade taxes become the nature of the system and become an essential item of the treasury's income.

Foreign trade also develops: in the north - border and transit with Liao and Western Xia, in the South-East - sea. The latter especially thrives after the formation of the Southern Song Empire. In the XII-XIII centuries. She, perhaps, less than ever, depended on the diplomatic embassy exchange that accompanied and conditioned her. In the large ports of the southeast coast of China were then established the management of merchant ships. Development of China in the Middle Ages ...

The development of trade was facilitated by the improvement of the money economy. In the XI-XII centuries. Copper and iron coins are cast in unprecedented quantities. They are spread even outside of China. At the same time, the use of precious metals is increasing and the first real banknotes appear, which, undoubtedly (although they did not have solid security), was a major achievement in the financial business.

In addition, the reign of the Jurchen in a large part of the country, although they took a lot from the Chinese order and culture, brought with it a certain element of inequality. This was manifested in the fact that the Jurchen had a special military-administrative community organization, seized or received the best land, paid 10 times less taxes than the Chinese.

Development of China in the Middle Ages