The Development Of The Cancel Cities And The Changes Of Their Function In Shan-dong Province In The Ming Dynasty

The Jing-hang Grand Canal brought about convenient communications, agricultural development and commercial activity, which promoted the canal cities and towns of Shan-Dong in the Ming Dynasty. With the development of the population, the city proper, trade and handicraft of the canal cities and towns, great changes had taken place in social customs and people's ideology and mentality. At the same time, the development above influenced the changes of canal cities and towns' function accordingly. For example, the political, military, cultural and especially economic functions had been obviously improved. The changes of economic radiation function played a leading role, which altered the political-function-leading traditional structure. Historical experience indicated that the prosperity of the canal cities and towns of Shan-Dong was closely connected with the unblocked Grand Canal and strengthened economic radiation function.