Economic Growth and Technological Advances in China

Economic Growth

• The Han dynasty's fall hindered Chinese economic development, but recovery occurred under the Tang dynasty.
• Tang dynasty advancements in farming included improved irrigation techniques and increased land grants to farmers.
• The Song dynasty adopted Champa rice from Vietnam, a highly productive variety suitable for poor soil and disease-resistant.
• Improved farming methods (e.g., iron plows, water wheels) during the Tang and Song eras increased food production and fueled population growth.
• Tang rulers' infrastructure projects (roads, waterways) facilitated trade along the Silk Road.
• High demand for Chinese silk, tea, steel, paper, and porcelain in Western regions boosted trade.

Technological Advances

• The shift from wood to coal as a fuel source spurred the coal mining industry.
• Coal-heated furnaces produced iron, which combined with coal's carbon, created stronger steel.
• Paper production spread throughout Asia, enabling book printing.
• Early printing involved woodblock printing techniques, followed by Pi Sheng's invention of movable type printing.
• Movable type printing involved individual, interchangeable characters.
• The Song dynasty created paper currency, driven by printing innovations.
• Gunpowder, invented during the Tang dynasty, found application in weaponry (fire lances).
• Large ships with rudders and sails were developed, alongside the refinement of the magnetic compass during the Song dynasty.

Literature and the Arts

• The Tang dynasty was a golden age for Chinese poetry.
• Tang poetry often reflected Daoist appreciation for nature.
• Li Bo wrote nature-inspired poetry, while Du Fu addressed social issues like poverty, injustice, and war.
• Song dynasty landscape paintings emphasized empty spaces to portray the incompleteness of human understanding and the interconnectedness of humanity with nature.
• Painters often incorporated calligraphy into their landscape paintings.
• Tang dynasty artisans excelled in porcelain production.