Question

The relative scarcity of arable land in China led to which of the following patterns in Chinese social life?

A. Extensive low-intensity agriculture with an emphasis on grazing animals
B. Equal population density across all zones and assignment of the right to inherit land to the first-born child
C. Limited agricultural surplus and difficulty in sustaining large-scale states
D. Early development of intensive agricultural cultivation techniques

Answer 1

The scarcity of arable land in China led to the development of intensive agricultural techniques such as double cropping of rice, which supported population growth and urbanization in dynastic China.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relative scarcity of arable land in China led to the early development of intensive agricultural cultivation techniques. This necessity arose due to the importance of maximizing the productivity of the limited arable land available to support the population.

Advanced farming methods included the use of irrigation systems, efficient crop planting strategies such as double cropping of rice, and the development of fertilizers. These innovations contributed significantly to the agricultural productivity that supported the growth and complexity of Chinese society.

In the Song dynasty, for instance, there was a remarkable population increase due to the adoption of fast-ripening rice strains that allowed for two harvests per year, leading to a substantial agricultural surplus. This surplus was central to urbanization and economic prosperity within the Chinese empire.

It underpinned the development of cities and supported an increase in the specialization of labor, fostering the growth of craft production, trade, and services that became characteristics of Chinese civilizational advancement.