RICE CULTIVATION
During the Song Dynasty, major advancements in agriculture were made. These included:
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WARFARE
During the Song Dynasty, advancements in warfare were made. These included:
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MACHINERY
During the Song Dynasty, advancements in machinery and their technicalities were made. These included:
- The continuation of the woodblock method, a method in which a giant slab of wood or metal with characters carved into it was pressed on a sheet to make a copy of the desired passage; also, movable type, a miniature version of its predecessor with only one character on a small slab, was introduced. Movable type was a significant advancement in the world of typing as it made the mass production of books more efficient. This, along, with the woodblock printing method, helped to spread literacy and bring light and recognition to popular culture such as drama. Later in the 15th century, when this method had reached Europe, it was deemed a revolutionary way of communicating freely.
- Shipbuilding was also improved methodically, as the range of the rudders increased and certain properties of the form of the ship helped increase buoyancy. The Song made improvements in the nautical field as demonstrated by their enhanced shipbuilding and compass techniques.
- The increased stability of the compass. The compass was greatly improved during the Song Dynasty as the Song reduced its needle size and attached a fixed stem.
SUMMARY
In summary, the Song made many significant advancements and achievements in the realm of technology. This innovative quality is clearly seen in many different fields, such as in agriculture, warfare, and machinery. Not only does is this reflected on the surface, but also, these plentiful advancements helped to stimulate the Song economy and ultimately, have an effect on the technology in the world.
Essay:
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in Ancient China, which was proceeded by the Tang and succeeded by the Jin, economic growth was spurred by the advancement of technology and innovation. These technological advancements included those in the agricultural field which made farming major crops such as rice more efficient and productive. Moreover, the upbringing of gunpowder helped the weak military of the Song hold their enemies at bay. Also, mechanical improvements such as the more efficient printing of books helped to affect and influence culture and the way of life. Methodical and strategical improvements in agriculture, military inventions, and efficient ways of making things such as books all were technological achievements that provided an impetus in changing the Chinese economy and culture.
During the Song Dynasty, rice and grain were key factors of the economy. In fact, rice was a key crop and was used for many different purposes, from serving as a basic food to brewing wine. However, in able to cultivate rice, one had to go through a long, arduous process which included many steps. These steps were indeed tedious: “to level the paddy fields, clear irrigation ditches, plant and especially transplant the seedlings, as well as to weed, harvest, thresh, and husk.” Worse, some areas in which rice was normally cultivated were not nearly fertile enough. This made rice growing very laborious and inefficient. During the Song Dynasty, the Song greatly improved their agricultural methods with agricultural manuals instructing the best ways to grow crops effectively. More importantly however, farmers started growing the rice crop south of the Yangzi River, where land was more fertile and the climate was more moderate. Furthermore, the Song started to plant more diversities of the rice crop, such as drought-resistant types and rice grown for unique causes, such as for brewing. The result of this was dramatically increased and more efficient rice production. In fact, after these improvements, rice became such a factor in everyday life that it caused the population size to grow enormously. These new methods of growing and cultivating rice helped the economy grow, for more food allowed for more efficient and effective use of time in growing the rice and in propelling trade.
Technological advancements were also made in the field of military. One of the most major advancements was the upbringing of the use of gunpowder. When the first formula for creating gunpowder was recorded in 1044 CE, gunpowder’s uses were very limited. At first, it was only used as a fire producing compound that was lit with a fuse and placed on the tips of arrows. However, as time passed by, its uses became more diverse and effective. Bombs of gunpowder, along with scraps of metal, were launched with catapults at the enemy. A weapon called the “fire-spurting lance”, a metal tube with gunpowder inside that was used like a flame-thrower, was invented. Among the other weapons that were invented with gunpowder were grenades, cannons, and land mines. These innovations and creative approaches for weapons allowed the weak Song military to survive for an extended period of time against their much stronger enemies, such as the Mongols. Even though the Song military was quite weak, innovative designs for weapons and new technology enabled the Song to extend the lifespan of their dynasty and its technological effect on China.
Lastly, many critical advancements were made in the making and using of machinary. This included making printing easier, developing more accurate compasses, and more precise shipbuilding. During the Song Dynasty, Chinese craftsmen continued the tradition of producing mass amounts of books. This process included “carving words and pictures into wooden blocks, inking them, and then pressing paper onto the blocks.” “Each block consisted of an entire page of text and illustrations.” These blocks were not singular but one chunk so characters were in place and not movable; this was the only downside. Printing with this method was an inexpensive, effective way and in fact, spread literacy, boosted drama, and helped spread a recognition of forms of popular culture. Later in the 11th century, the Song invented movable type, which was “one piece of type for each character”. This newer method was a wooden, smaller version of the wood blocks. With this method, each wood block only contained one character and therefore allowed for more flexibility in writing and communicating.
Even though this method was not often used, as it was fairly expensive, later in the 15th century when it spread to Europe, it was recognized as a revolutionary way of communicating. Another great advancement in technology was the perfection of the compass; it was improved by the reduction of needle size and the enhanced stability granted when attached to a fixed stem, “rather than floating in water.” Lastly, shipbuilding was made more precise as “the Chinese devised a way to mechanically raise and lower rudders in order for ships to travel in a wider range of water depths.” Movable printing type, the perfection of the compass, and more advanced shipbuilding were major accomplishments, which on their own helped to improve the technicalities of the machinery in their own fields.
In summation, the Song Dynasty was characterized by many accomplishments in the technological realms. Advancements in technology were diverse and plentiful, such as in agriculture, weaponry, and the technicalities of machines. This combination of achievements in food, warfare, and machines helped to define the Song Dynasty’s innovation and its lasting effect on the technology in Ancient China.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in Ancient China, which was proceeded by the Tang and succeeded by the Jin, economic growth was spurred by the advancement of technology and innovation. These technological advancements included those in the agricultural field which made farming major crops such as rice more efficient and productive. Moreover, the upbringing of gunpowder helped the weak military of the Song hold their enemies at bay. Also, mechanical improvements such as the more efficient printing of books helped to affect and influence culture and the way of life. Methodical and strategical improvements in agriculture, military inventions, and efficient ways of making things such as books all were technological achievements that provided an impetus in changing the Chinese economy and culture.
During the Song Dynasty, rice and grain were key factors of the economy. In fact, rice was a key crop and was used for many different purposes, from serving as a basic food to brewing wine. However, in able to cultivate rice, one had to go through a long, arduous process which included many steps. These steps were indeed tedious: “to level the paddy fields, clear irrigation ditches, plant and especially transplant the seedlings, as well as to weed, harvest, thresh, and husk.” Worse, some areas in which rice was normally cultivated were not nearly fertile enough. This made rice growing very laborious and inefficient. During the Song Dynasty, the Song greatly improved their agricultural methods with agricultural manuals instructing the best ways to grow crops effectively. More importantly however, farmers started growing the rice crop south of the Yangzi River, where land was more fertile and the climate was more moderate. Furthermore, the Song started to plant more diversities of the rice crop, such as drought-resistant types and rice grown for unique causes, such as for brewing. The result of this was dramatically increased and more efficient rice production. In fact, after these improvements, rice became such a factor in everyday life that it caused the population size to grow enormously. These new methods of growing and cultivating rice helped the economy grow, for more food allowed for more efficient and effective use of time in growing the rice and in propelling trade.
Technological advancements were also made in the field of military. One of the most major advancements was the upbringing of the use of gunpowder. When the first formula for creating gunpowder was recorded in 1044 CE, gunpowder’s uses were very limited. At first, it was only used as a fire producing compound that was lit with a fuse and placed on the tips of arrows. However, as time passed by, its uses became more diverse and effective. Bombs of gunpowder, along with scraps of metal, were launched with catapults at the enemy. A weapon called the “fire-spurting lance”, a metal tube with gunpowder inside that was used like a flame-thrower, was invented. Among the other weapons that were invented with gunpowder were grenades, cannons, and land mines. These innovations and creative approaches for weapons allowed the weak Song military to survive for an extended period of time against their much stronger enemies, such as the Mongols. Even though the Song military was quite weak, innovative designs for weapons and new technology enabled the Song to extend the lifespan of their dynasty and its technological effect on China.
Lastly, many critical advancements were made in the making and using of machinary. This included making printing easier, developing more accurate compasses, and more precise shipbuilding. During the Song Dynasty, Chinese craftsmen continued the tradition of producing mass amounts of books. This process included “carving words and pictures into wooden blocks, inking them, and then pressing paper onto the blocks.” “Each block consisted of an entire page of text and illustrations.” These blocks were not singular but one chunk so characters were in place and not movable; this was the only downside. Printing with this method was an inexpensive, effective way and in fact, spread literacy, boosted drama, and helped spread a recognition of forms of popular culture. Later in the 11th century, the Song invented movable type, which was “one piece of type for each character”. This newer method was a wooden, smaller version of the wood blocks. With this method, each wood block only contained one character and therefore allowed for more flexibility in writing and communicating.
Even though this method was not often used, as it was fairly expensive, later in the 15th century when it spread to Europe, it was recognized as a revolutionary way of communicating. Another great advancement in technology was the perfection of the compass; it was improved by the reduction of needle size and the enhanced stability granted when attached to a fixed stem, “rather than floating in water.” Lastly, shipbuilding was made more precise as “the Chinese devised a way to mechanically raise and lower rudders in order for ships to travel in a wider range of water depths.” Movable printing type, the perfection of the compass, and more advanced shipbuilding were major accomplishments, which on their own helped to improve the technicalities of the machinery in their own fields.
In summation, the Song Dynasty was characterized by many accomplishments in the technological realms. Advancements in technology were diverse and plentiful, such as in agriculture, weaponry, and the technicalities of machines. This combination of achievements in food, warfare, and machines helped to define the Song Dynasty’s innovation and its lasting effect on the technology in Ancient China.