Song Dynasty Advances

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The Song Dynasty is a very important part of Chinese history. It was a great dynasty that improved various inventions. However, before the Song Dynasty could flourish as whole the first Song emperor, Song Taizu, had defeated warlords to consolidated Song control throughout China (Bentley, Pg. 219). This united China which would allow for great advancements to come. Song China improved in a wide variety of ways such as in agriculture with the fast ripening rice and plow. Gunpowder, paper money plus credit, porcelain, iron, and improvements to Junks, which are Chinese ships. These inventions and improvements led to the vast economic growth that lead to the prosperity of urban China. This can be proven with the look on present day market economy of China. …show more content…
It naturally allowed weapons to improve greatly. This would naturally strengthen anyone’s military. However, the creation of gunpowder was not intentional. It was accidentally created by alchemists. So, during the Song Dynasty, gunpowder was being used in fire cannons, bombs that were flung by catapults and fire rockets. These dangerous weapons were used against the Mongols, which later would end the Song Dynasty. However, the good that comes from the Song Dynasty ending is that gunpowder was spread further; to the Arab world and eventually Europe (Kramer). Without the Song Dynasty utilizing gunpowder then other great nations would have not prevailed as they did. Europe and their wars would not be the same without the contributions of the Song Dynasty. Gunpowder was not the only thing to travel to other parts of the world thanks to the Song Dynasty. The compass, which was earlier created, made its way to Europe due to the Silk Road and trade relations of the Song during the 12th century (Kramer). Gunpowder could not have just been given away for free, obviously, there is a price to items. The prices were set with a new invention; paper

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