The Grain Trade And Its Influence On Urbanization In Henan Province In Qing Dynasty

Grain was the major economic product while grain trade occupied a bigger proportion in commerce in traditional agricultural society, especial Henan province. As an agricultural province in ancient China, Henan had more population involved in agriculture. And, the grain trade also played a very important role in its economic development.On the other hand, as a symbol of prosperous economy, urbanization had two criteria: the amount of non-agricultural population and relevant economic structure. As a non-agricultural economy and the main channel for grain market, the trade of grain had a close relationship with the development of urbanization. Therefore it will be of both academic and practical value to study urbanization through grain trade, and to research the trade through urbanization.But in the economic history of Qing Dynasty, study about the above two aspects is not sufficient, especial a comprehensive research of the above two. Meanwhile a combination study of them also is of great significance to the modernization of Henan province. Hence, in this thesis, the author aims to analyze the agricultural market and trade mould of agricultural economy of Qing Dynasty and study both the merits and demerits of the influence of agriculture trade over urbanization, trying to specify the grain trade of Qing Dynasty in Henan province and its influence upon urbanization of that time.The thesis is divided into four chapters:1. The system of grain market and its characteristics of Qing Dynasty in Henan province. Henan had a relatively mature agriculture economy with great numbers of initial markets, transit markets, and transportation facilities. Yet, we still can find some deficiencies too: due to geographical feature, there was not direct overseas commerce. So in Qing Dynasty He Nan became a major province of grain export rather than a transit market for grain trade.2. The development of grain trade of Qing Dynasty in Henan province .Henan used to afford both the consumption and export of grain ,with a big export net reached Zhiliand Shandong in the North ,Shanxi and Shaanxi in the West. This net had much to do with its geographical and transportation feature. However there was still false grain commerce because the product involved was sometimes not extra grain for the market. But the author concludes, through detailed study ,that the extra grain produced in He Nan were still enough to afford the development of local agriculture market.3. Factor analysis of the development of grain commerce in Henan. In this chapter, the author focuses on analysis about the positive factors in agriculture development such as the increase in agricultural productivity and in related population ,the enhancement of area economy, etc. After detailed demonstration, the author makes the conclusion that during peace time, under the influences of relative factors, the development of grain commerce was encouraged,4. The influence of grain trade of Qing Dynasty in Henan province upon urbanization. Grain trade made urbanization possible because it helped to maintain the urban population to a certain amount; it was also the major economy, attracting necessary sources for the development of urbanization. Meanwhile, the author points out that administration measures from the authorities were the main power to deepen and speed up the improvement of urbanization in ancient China while economy had relatively less influence than the former. But these two would frequently cooperate to promote urbanization. And in areas with less or no political influence, agricultural economy served as the dominant factor improving urbanization.Therefore, taking studies of grain trade and urbanization as a whole, the thesis demonstrates the development, characteristics, and related factors involved in the grain trade of Qing Dynasty in Henan. And author also makes statistic analysis of about the development of the eleven Fu in Henan province.