3 ms·
I've read other analysis, the key point is ancient China always had an excessive working force problem, why inventing machines when your slave labor can work ju
by est 4y ago
I've read other analysis, the key point is ancient China always had an excessive working force problem, why inventing machines when your slave labor can work just fine? Things got worse when corns & potatos were introduced to China. A married couple can reallocate to really remote places and raise a family easily. There's no motivation to farming for larger margins. Silk and tea were much more lucrative business. Farming was scattered and limited to core-family scale. Tech advancements never caught on.
- socialdemocrat 4y agoI don’t believe slavery was ever as prevalent in China as in Europe. Complex rice farming discourage the use of slaves. Chinese farmers usually had a more independent position than in Europe. European peasants ran away to towns in medieval times for a reason.
- fnordpiglet 4y agoSlavery has a long and rich history in Asia, including china. (N.b., unrelated but all Thai people were enslaved to the monarchy) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_China https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_China
- socialdemocrat 4y agoThey point out it was not chattel slavery though. But labour costs certainly must have played a role. Adam Smith remarked in his book the Wealth of Nations that Chinese workers seems to have much lower pay despite China being no less developed economically.