Cities and Trade
Throughout the Tang and Song Dynasties, most of the food grown on China's farms flowed into cities and towns, which were busy, crowded places. Chang'an, China's capital, was the largest city during the Tang Dynasty. This city had a mix of people from a variety of different cultures. As cities in China grew, trade grew as well. Trade and China's agricultural base made China rich with culture. Traders used rivers and waterways to ship goods on ships and barges. The Grand Canal was an example of this. It carried a large amount of trade goods much of which were farm products. Goods and crops were moved into cities due to the Grand Canal.
Not only did the Chinese trade between cities, but they also carried on trade with distant lands and peoples. During the Tang, most foreign trade was over land routes. One specifically important export from the Tang dynasty was silk. It was so valuable that the Chinese tried to keep the method of making silk a secret. Unlike the Tang, during the Song dynasty, maritime trade became important. Sea routes connected China to foreign lands. Porcelain, a thin, beautiful type of pottery, was developed by the Chinese during this time period as well. A strong economy was formed as a result of all of this trading. The growth of trade and wealth lead to the invention of the world's first paper money, invented by the Song in the 900's.
Not only did the Chinese trade between cities, but they also carried on trade with distant lands and peoples. During the Tang, most foreign trade was over land routes. One specifically important export from the Tang dynasty was silk. It was so valuable that the Chinese tried to keep the method of making silk a secret. Unlike the Tang, during the Song dynasty, maritime trade became important. Sea routes connected China to foreign lands. Porcelain, a thin, beautiful type of pottery, was developed by the Chinese during this time period as well. A strong economy was formed as a result of all of this trading. The growth of trade and wealth lead to the invention of the world's first paper money, invented by the Song in the 900's.