The Song Dynasty: Interactions

The Song Dynasty: Interactions The Song set up supervised markets along the border to encourage trade between them and its neighbors. In 971CE the government established the first Maritime Trade Supervisorate followed by four others. Its roles included the taxation of imported goods, government purchase and sale of imported goods, and to issue foreign trade permits for local merchants. Chinese goods that flowed north in large quantities included tea, silk, copper coins, paper and printed books etc. The return flow included horses that Song needed desperately for its armies but also other animals and goods that had traveled across the Silk Road. There was also vigorous sea trade with Korea, Japan and lands to the southwest. During Song times this maritime trade for the first time exceeded overland foreign trade. About fifty countries carried out overseas trade with the Song Dynasty. Chinese ships were seen all throughout the Indian Ocean and began to displace Indian and Arab merchants in the South Seas. Shards of Song Chinese porcelain have been found as far away as eastern Africa. The Song Dynasty: Interactions The Song set up supervised markets along the border to encourage trade between them and its neighbors. In 971CE the government established the first Maritime Trade Supervisorate followed by four others. Its roles included the taxation of imported goods, government purchase and sale of imported goods, and to issue foreign trade permits for local merchants. Chinese goods that flowed north in large quantities included tea, silk, copper coins, paper and printed books etc. The return flow included horses that Song needed desperately for its armies but also other animals and goods that had traveled across the Silk Road. There was also vigorous sea trade with Korea, Japan and lands to the southwest. During Song times this maritime trade for the first time exceeded overland foreign trade. About fifty countries carried out overseas trade with the Song Dynasty. Chinese ships were seen all throughout the Indian Ocean and began to displace Indian and Arab merchants in the South Seas. Shards of Song Chinese porcelain have been found as far away as eastern Africa.