International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.3, 2020

The changes of the economic structure in the Song Dynasties and the thrive of the Maritime Silk Road

(Abstract)

GE, Jinfang

The article interprets the Chinese society of the Song Dynasties in the synchronic structure in which Asian political and international situation had experienced great changes, and explores the deep reasons for the thrive of the Maritime Silk Road in the dynasties in light of the rapidly changing economy at that time. In terms of external circumstances, the rise of the northern peoples and their states cut off the land transportation from the Central Plains - especially the Southern Song Dynasty - to Central and West Asia, resulting in the decline of the Silk Road on land. On the other hand, the Arabia Peninsula was unified in the early 7th century and Arabian merchants became conveyors between the East and the West. In terms of internal circumstances, Chinese economic center shifted southward, and handicraft and commercial industries grew rapidly, forming an economic structure in which agriculture and commerce were equally important and creating a steady flow of such products as ceramics and silk eager for export.