Question

Chinese agriculture became markedly more efficient in the Song Dynasty because of which of the following factors?

a) Invention of the compass
b) Introduction of crop rotation
c) Development of the civil service exam system
d) Widespread use of the plow

Answer 1

During the Song Dynasty, the efficiency of Chinese agriculture improved due to irrigation advancements, the cultivation of fast-ripening rice, and the establishment of a 3-field crop rotation system.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chinese agriculture during the Song Dynasty became markedly more efficient primarily due to advancements in agricultural technology and government policies that stabilized agricultural markets and food prices. Irrigation technologies such as chain-driven pumps enabled the conversion of hillsides into arable land. The introduction of new strains of fast-ripening rice allowed for the possibility of two harvests in a single year, greatly increasing food production. Furthermore, the Song government played a role in maintaining transportation and irrigation systems and distributed seeds of more efficient crops. Improvements such as the development of the 3-field crop rotation system and the adoption of heavy plows, driven by the spread of the horse collar, optimized the use of land and increased yields.