Development Versus Stagnation: Technological Continuity and Agricultural Progress in Pre-Modern China - Couverture rigide

Deng, K. Gang

 
9780313286469: Development Versus Stagnation: Technological Continuity and Agricultural Progress in Pre-Modern China

Synopsis

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.

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À propos de l?auteur

GANG DENG is lecturer in economic history at Flinders University of South Australia.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.