The Medieval Chinese Economic Revolution By: Kailey Bignar

Introduction During the Medieval Chinese Economic Revolution (800-1100), the increase in population and the commercialized economy helped to make China a world leader. The tea trades and transplanting of rice, along with the introduction of paper money and the compass, greatly transformed China’s economy.

Tea Trade As tea became one of the major commercial crops those selling it became very wealthy and it became a major source of revenue for the government. During the Song Dynasty, merchants were required to have a government license to sell it. Tea became popular as Buddhist monks drank it to stay awake during long times of meditations. The popularity expanded as tea ceremonies began in Japan as a means of worshipping ancestors.

Transplanting of Rice The Yangzi River and the milder temperatures in southern China provided an optimal region for farming, thus shifting the economic center to this area. To earn a higher profit, Chinese farmers started transplanting rice. It was a simple process of planting the rice seedlings and later moving them to a flooded field to allow farmers to grow another crop in the same field.

Paper Money To avoid the hassle of carrying around large amounts of coins, the Tang government created paper money. It was used just like regular money, but much easier. The paper money stated how much it was worth and when and where it was issued.

Compass To assist people traveling at sea, a compass was perfected for navigation. This was the first compass ever invented. It was made up of a case that had a small magnetic needle in it that would point north.

Conclusion The history of China is an interesting one. China became one of the world leaders during the Medieval Economic Chinese Revolution. During this period, their population double and the expansion to the southern region led to a more commercialize economy. This expansion helped to make China the country it is today.

References http://heritageofjapan.wordpress.com/yayoi-era-yields-up-rice/the- advent-of-agriculture-and-the-rice-revolution/life-on-a-wet-rice- farming-village/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_Song_dynasty http://www.antiques.com/classified/Asian-Antiques/Asian- Decorative-Arts/Antique-Antique-Japanese-Tamba-Tea-Leaf-Storage- Jar-c-1885 http://www.culture-4-travel.com/invention-of-the-compass.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermill http://history.cultural-china.com/en/183History5435.html