Gang Deng, K. Gang Deng

Development Versus Stagnation

Technological Continuity and Agricultural Progress in Pre-Modern China

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

China's loss of economic, technical, and cultural supremacy after the Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1279) has produced one of the greatest enigmas of world history. Why did China fail to undergo an industrial revolution? Explanations relate to deficiencies of Chinese cultural values, social structure, class system, bureaucracy, and technology. This volume examines the subject of technological development, particularly agricultural development, in order to evaluate whether China suffered all-round technological stagnation. Using the example of the nongshu, or agricultural book, the author also examines the role of Chinese values, social structure, class structure, and bureaucracy in the accumulation, preservation, diffusion, promotion, and recovery of knowledge. Nongshu formed an organic part of Chinese agriculture and thus of Chinese economic history. Thus examination of the nongshu phenomenon leads to new insights into the sociopolitical structure and long-term economic development of pre-modern China. The examination also shows that Chinese technology in agriculture, the leading sector of the economy, did not completely stagnate.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Praeger
• Seitenzahl: 294
• Erscheinungstermin: 26. Januar 1993
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 240mm x 161mm x 20mm
• Gewicht: 610g
• ISBN-13: 9780313286469
• ISBN-10: 0313286469
• Artikelnr.: 25565541

Autorenporträt

K. Gang Deng

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction Nongshu: A Phenomenon in History The Background: Natural and
Social Environment in China, and Authors' Motives The "Mainstream"
Agronomic Treatises The Chinese Agronomic System and Its Development
Nongshu Dissemination Nongshu and Economic Development Conclusion: Chinese
Agriculture without Shi and Nongshu Appendix I: Estimated Shi Population in
Premodern China Appendix II: Identification of Authors Studied by Wang Yuhu
(1964) Appendix III: Nongshu Publishers and Sponsors Appendix IV:
Illustration of the Role of the Nongshu Appendix V: The Reason for the
Decrease of the Cultivated Land Area References Abbreviations Literature