Why didn't the Song Dynasty Industrialize?
Song Dynasty: The Almost Industrial Revolution
Between A.D 960-1279 China entered a phase of economic and agricultural growth that was much larger than ever before. Revolutions in farming, ideology, and bureaucracy allowed the Song Dynasty to become the world’s first modern economy. This great economy resulted in high levels of urbanization and favorable conditions for technological development, commerce and a rural-based proto-industrialization.1 Despite the rich development and likelihood of an industrious revolution, why didn’t the Song Dynasty in China go through social, economic, and technological advancement consistent with an industrial revolution, despite being at the pinnacle of production and having, for its time, the world’s first modern government?
The 300 or so years leading up to the Song Dynasty were filled with radical social and economical development. A growing population and the creation of large cities such as Kaifeng, Hangzhou and Beijing provided homes and land for upwards of 20 million people. These cities were not only homes and places of work for millions of people but became market centers for trade and maritime commerce. Within these large cities, social classes started to develop, and through the competitive examinations elites began to take control and gain power. As social classes began to divide, private and maritime trade increased expanding the economic market creating a new wealthy mercantile class. The mercantile class became well versed and educated in the market system and proved to the working and middle class that production and trading of goods was extremely profitable. As money was becoming easier to come buy and the competitive examinations became increasingly important education started to develop to train people to take these extremely hard exams.2 The exams, when passed, gave people the chance to become government officials and provide honor and wealth for their families.
The selection of qualified citizens to
Between A.D 960-1279 China entered a phase of economic and agricultural growth that was much larger than ever before. Revolutions in farming, ideology, and bureaucracy allowed the Song Dynasty to become the world’s first modern economy. This great economy resulted in high levels of urbanization and favorable conditions for technological development, commerce and a rural-based proto-industrialization.1 Despite the rich development and likelihood of an industrious revolution, why didn’t the Song Dynasty in China go through social, economic, and technological advancement consistent with an industrial revolution, despite being at the pinnacle of production and having, for its time, the world’s first modern government?
The 300 or so years leading up to the Song Dynasty were filled with radical social and economical development. A growing population and the creation of large cities such as Kaifeng, Hangzhou and Beijing provided homes and land for upwards of 20 million people. These cities were not only homes and places of work for millions of people but became market centers for trade and maritime commerce. Within these large cities, social classes started to develop, and through the competitive examinations elites began to take control and gain power. As social classes began to divide, private and maritime trade increased expanding the economic market creating a new wealthy mercantile class. The mercantile class became well versed and educated in the market system and proved to the working and middle class that production and trading of goods was extremely profitable. As money was becoming easier to come buy and the competitive examinations became increasingly important education started to develop to train people to take these extremely hard exams.2 The exams, when passed, gave people the chance to become government officials and provide honor and wealth for their families.
The selection of qualified citizens to
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