The Ecomonic Development And Social Changes:Foused On The Xiu River Valley From Ming Dynasty To The Republic Of China

The Xiuhe River Valley locates in the northwest of Jiangxi province, which is surrounded by mountains and intertwined with Water networks. Mountains are much more than the fields. The Xiuhe River Valley’s special geographical position decides its particular culture and custom. This area’s development in the hundreds of years from Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China appeared its own characteristics of the times and regional features. Its favourable nature condition offered a good foundation for the cultivation of economic crops. Unobstructed waterway created convenience for the regional exchanges. Floating population’s influx and natural population growth generated conflicts with the limited resources, which objectively speeded up the exploitation of mountain resources and promoted the adjustment of economic structures and the changes of the society. The wave of modernization brought unprecedented strong impact to the area after the signature of five-port trading. Visibly, different historical stages of opportunity leaded The Xiuhe River Valley’s periodical economic developments, revealing its sufficient toughness and vitalities.In this paper, whose study area based on The Xiuhe River Valley’s main stream and major tributaries, mainly surrounded the natural political evolution, regional characteristics, the amphibious transportation conditions, migration and commerce to research. This paper is divided into three parts to analyze the social changes from Ming Dynasty to The Republic of China with a multi-angle. The first part introduces this area’s natural conditions and human environment. The second part says this river area’s population flow, market town’s economic development and the change of social customs. The last part, tells the trade route’s change and the adjustment of market structure after the signature of five-port trading, taking the rise and fall of black tea for example. Finally, conclude the paper with a brief historical summary, trying to draw the outline of the history development and extracting its revelation to the development of reality.