Researches On Northern Shaanxi Famine In The Ming And Qing Dynasties.

Based on the impact of climate change and its special geographical structure, amines occurs frequently with the great intensity, wide areas and various categories in Northern Shaanxi province in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its serious results, such as the massive death of population, the recession of economy, the rising of prices, the confusion of society and thought and the outbreak of epidemic disease, influence the social development of Northern Shaanxi province. In addition, the outbreak and spreading of famine is influenced by various factors such as the change of climate, geographical environment, destruction of vegetation, political environment and war, etc. Facing the famine, the government and common people of the Ming and Qing are positive to relieve famine: to exempt taxes, to salvage disadvantaged, to comfort victims of a natural disaster, to construct water conservancy project, to establish storage, to pray and worship God, to send medicine and to make redemption of property. Although the corruption reduces the effect of the reliving famine due to the defective system, these measures reduce the side effect of famine, rescue the common people from the famine and play a positive role in the development of production.