Week 4: Notes and Slides (18) Flashcards
What was one of the main reasons for China’s population growth due to aquaculture?
Aquaculture was incredibly efficient, allowing for a large food supply and rapid population growth.
Why did technological innovation in China stall despite early advancements?
The efficiency of wet-rice agriculture kept people tied to the land, limiting social mobility and reducing the need to innovate.
Which of the following factors contributed to China’s lack of need to innovate in agriculture?
A) Scarcity of food
B) Efficiency of aquaculture
C) Lack of resources
D) Influence of European trade
B
How did aquaculture affect Europe differently compared to China?
In Europe, less labor-intensive agriculture led to more innovation and technological advancement, creating a population of “restless technophiles.”
True or False: China’s wet-rice aquaculture allowed for high social mobility.
Answer: False. The labour-intensive nature of wet-rice aquaculture kept people on the land, reducing social mobility.
Why did East and South Asian populations grow so large historically?
The availability of food from wet-rice aquaculture, which produced a substantial amount of food per unit area.
Fill in the Blank
Wet-rice agriculture involves over ______ steps, each requiring significant labor and time throughout the year.
20
What is one reason China was hesitant to trade with other nations?
China believed itself to be self-sufficient and superior, which limited external influences and trade.
What hidden disadvantage did the success of wet-rice agriculture impose on China’s imperial ambitions?
Although it sustained a large population, wet-rice agriculture’s labor demands hindered the development of a strong, innovative state capable of external expansion.
How did aquaculture’s success paradoxically lead to stagnation in agricultural innovation?
Its high efficiency met food demands, removing the pressure to develop new agricultural methods.
