Between 200 C. E. and 900 C. E. , China underwent a lot of significant changes and continuities, especially in political and economical aspects.
A specific change that happened to China’s economic system was the shift from agriculture in the Han Dynasty to trading in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Although there were changes in power and rule, China’s political administration continued to hold the same basic ideals, and was grounded in Confucian thought. During the late Han Dynasty, agriculture was the main source of income for the Chinese.However, as time passed, the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean Trade were developed, leading China’s economy to change from being dependent upon agriculture to focusing on mass trading. A factor that assisted China’s rise in trade was the development of the junk, which was known to be the most advanced sea vessel during its time. Also, the development of the Grand Canal in the Sui Dynasty also vastly encouraged China’s trade and economy by connecting the northern and southern parts of China.
These improvements of technology connected China with the rest of Asia, The final factor that contributed to the success of China’s trade was the consolidation of control on the Southern Coast. Trade thrived with China, because China was the sole exporter of silk, leading to a tilted trade balance with both the central caravan cities and the land of the Indian Ocean, causing precious metals to flow in China. Despite China’s constant changes within its political areas, ever since the late Han dynasty, the Chinese government has been constant and continued its basic administration throughout the varying times.Beginning with the late Han, when they first implemented Confucian ideals into the government, the basic structure of the Chinese government has resided throughout the years.
Even after the decline of the Han and after China’s political fragmentation, the Confucian government emerged during the Sui Dynasty’s reunification of China. Continuing the patriarchal rule and society, with the government as a reflection of the family status, China’s Confucian ideals persisted throughout the political instability, outlasting the Buddhist influence over the government.As well as the Confucian system, so was the public exam reestablished during the Sui Dynasty, a system that recruits officials based on merit and ability rather than status and wealth. In conclusion, a major change that China went through economically from the late Han to the Tang Dynasty was its shift from agriculture to trade, and also the economic rise of China due to its technological improvements. The political administration however, continued to remain grounded in Confucian and patriarchal ideals, and also the public examination for the officials was continued even after the political fragmentation of China.
