Although the Song period (960–1279) was militarily weak, it led the world in economic development・culture・and technological innovation.
Economic Development under Song
- Agriculture: Productivity increased through the spread of a new variety of rice (Champa rice)
- Commerce: Cities developed, and huge markets emerged in Kaifeng and Lin’an
- Jiaozi (paper money) was invented: the world’s first paper money
- Maritime trade developed: Guangzhou and Quanzhou became international trading ports
Song Technological Innovations (Three Great Inventions)
・Gunpowder: Invented during the Tang period and fully used as a weapon during the Song period
・Compass: A revolution in sea navigation and the foundation of the Age of Exploration
・Movable-type printing (Bi Sheng・11th century): Developed 400 years before Gutenberg
The three great inventions of the Song period reached Europe by land and sea routes and opened the way to the modern age.
・Gunpowder: Invented during the Tang period and fully used as a weapon during the Song period
・Compass: A revolution in sea navigation and the foundation of the Age of Exploration
・Movable-type printing (Bi Sheng・11th century): Developed 400 years before Gutenberg
The three great inventions of the Song period reached Europe by land and sea routes and opened the way to the modern age.
Key Points
- Song = age of great economic and technological development
- World’s first paper money (jiaozi)・movable-type printing・compass・gunpowder
- These inventions made possible Europe’s Age of Exploration and the Protestant Reformation
Practice Questions
- Give the name of the world’s first paper money invented during the Song period.
- Give the three great inventions of the Song period.
- Give the name of the person who invented movable-type printing during the Song period.
Answers
- Jiaozi
- Gunpowder・compass・movable-type printing
- Bi Sheng (Bishan)