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“Commercial Revolution” in the Song Dynasty



Author(s)

Ivy K. Agyekum

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2019.10.013

Department of Liberal Arts and Journalism, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China

The Song Dynasty has been known in history for its great commercial success due to a series of events in the dynasty. In order to explain the reasons for economic success, this paper attempts to use factors such as political stability, discovery of new rice species in the South, the introduction of paper money by merchants from Sichuan in the South of China, and the increase in iron production especially in the North. Specialisation of products is also discussed separately but into details. A further mention of characteristics of the internal and international trade is also highlighted in this paper. An introduction of how the Song dynasty was founded and its distinct political, social and cultural characteristics, are delved into. Also the separation of northern Song Dynasty from the southern Song dynasty will be discussed. The paper concludes with combined interpretations from the famous “Qing Ming Shag He Tu” painting. This painting gives a somewhat illustrated evidence of the vibrancy of the Song Dynasty’s commercialisation recorded in history.

Song Dynasty, commercialisation, economy, trade, specialisation