Cosmopolitan China
During the period from the 7th to the 13th centuries (up until the Mongol invasion of China) the influence of Buddhism and increasing commercial contacts opened China to the wider world. As a consequence, many of the cultural and technological developments of Chinese civilization began to filter out of China and influence the rest of Eurasia. Chinese civilization had a great contribution to western development, especially through the establishment of the silk roads. It was seen as glamourous and sophisticated, easily the most advanced of its time.
The Extent and foundations of Chinese influence
Under early Tang dynasty the Chinese exerted a powerful influence over East and Southeast Asia, as well much of Inner Eurasia. The Chinese Army crossed the himalayas to install friendly governments in India and the middle-east for trading purposes, but at Talas River 751, Chinese expansion halted by Arab expansion and the advance of Islam. After this battle, the secret of paper was gained by the Arab World. This secret, from there, eventually reached Europe in the 12th century, 1000 years after its invention.
Reasons for China's growth
One reason is the "green revolution" when the adoption of wet-rice agriculture, through use of Champa, or 'early ripening' rice meant that efficiency increased two-fold. The green revolution enabled farmers to move into production of commercial crops and drew them increasingly into wider marketing networks, and thus commerce grew. Because this form of rice grew predominately in the southern parts of China, the civilisation saw a southward expansion. In the 7th century 25% of the population was in south/central China. By the 11th century 70% of the population lived in south/central China.
The growth of commerce can be shown by the levels of Iron production. In 806, iron production was at 13 500 tons. This increased to 90 400 tons by 1064 and by 1078, it was at 125 000 tons. Compare this to Britains iron production in 1788: 76 000 tons. This iron production led into all areas: agriculture, printing, architechture, technological developments, improving living standards and the chinese ceramics inductry which grew so dominant that even today we call ceramics "china".
Increasing urbanisation was also experienced. The chinese capitals (Tang capital: Chang'an (Xian) and Song capitals Kaifeng, Hangzhou) had greater populations than their European equivalents. In 750: Chang'an had a population of 1 000 000. Constantinople's was 300 000 and Paris' 20 000. In 1200, Hangzhou's population was 2 500 000. Constantinople's was 200,000 and Paris' was 100,000. Also Paper money was first used in 8th/9th centuries and was widely used by 10th century. There was a Currency reserve bank and there was also inflation. After the Mongol invasion, paper money spread to other parts of Eurasia.
In China during this period, there was:
Commercial capitalism developed in Tang & Song China and spread from there across Eurasia, especially to Islamic world and Indian Ocean, and it very much changed the world.
Social hierarchy & the examination system
The Chinese were the first to use examinations as an objective test of competence, and the first also to recruit people for public service on this basis. Status was thus, earned and not born. The growth of commerce during the Tang-Song periods altered the distribution of wealth in society. Commercially generated wealth provided access to education and, through the examination system, education not birth became the the most critical factor in determining access to wealth and power. This made Chinese society less aristocratic and more meritocratric; and thus, some argue, more 'modern'. This Chinese invention is now used throughout world. Jesuit missionaries to China learned of the system and began using examinations in their schools in Europe from 1599 onwards (Ratio scriptorium). A revival of Confucianism from the 10th century onwards contributes to a decline in cosmopolitanism. China became more introverted, self-confident and assured, but learnt less from the wider world.