Silk and the Song Dynasty
Silk and the Song Dynasty
Silk was the ultimate medieval cloth, and Song Dynasty China was its main producer. More than just the stuff from which clothing was made, it served as money, art, and symbol of imperial power.
Key Ideas
As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
Key Ideas
Think about the following questions as you watch the video
- 02:12 According to Francesca, where was silk produced in the era of the Song Dynasty, and what were some of the most important export markets?
- 04:52 According to Professor Xiaolin Duan, how did the economy work during the Song Dynasty? Who made silk, in particular?
- 05:33 Other than clothing, what other uses were there for silk?
- 06:36 According to Professor Duan, was the silk trade part of a wider Afro-Eurasian trading system? How?
- 09:06 What does the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving tell us about who did most of the work to produce silk?
- 11:13 Does Professor Duan believe that there was an industrial revolution in China in this period? What evidence is there for it?