Changes

Population pressure within the southeastern coastal regions, along with other factors, spurred many people to move elsewhere, and much of western China became significantly more densely settled, and developed, in this period. For some, the Qing Court provided official incentives and rewards; regardless, in many areas, local landlords provided aid to new settlers, helping them obtain land, providing them with seed and livestock, and so on. In many of these areas, slash-and-burn agriculture initially led to the devastation of much otherwise fertile soil, but as settlement became more well-established, these frontier areas came to reliably supply a variety of products, including [[tea]], ramie, timber, grain, [[copper]], wool, leather, gypsum, and furs, to other parts of the country (especially to the urban areas of the southeastern coast). In many areas, settlers had to band together not only for success in developing the land, but also in defending their settlements from indigenous or minority ethnic peoples who reacted negatively, even violently, to the influx of outsiders into their lands.<ref>Eastman, 12-14.</ref>

Population pressure within the southeastern coastal regions, along with other factors, spurred many people to move elsewhere, and much of western China became significantly more densely settled, and developed, in this period. For some, the Qing Court provided official incentives and rewards; regardless, in many areas, local landlords provided aid to new settlers, helping them obtain land, providing them with seed and livestock, and so on. In many of these areas, slash-and-burn agriculture initially led to the devastation of much otherwise fertile soil, but as settlement became more well-established, these frontier areas came to reliably supply a variety of products, including [[tea]], ramie, timber, grain, [[copper]], wool, leather, gypsum, and furs, to other parts of the country (especially to the urban areas of the southeastern coast). In many areas, settlers had to band together not only for success in developing the land, but also in defending their settlements from indigenous or minority ethnic peoples who reacted negatively, even violently, to the influx of outsiders into their lands.<ref>Eastman, 12-14.</ref>

The area around the capital was largely less urban, and less densely populated than areas of the south. Centuries of taxing the soil had left the north comparatively less fertile, and thus less densely populated. Cotton and [[tobacco]] were among the main cash crops in the north at this time, and local or cottage industries such as coal mining, brewing, glassmaking, and cotton spinning and weaving were among the chief proto-industrial activities. Dispersed patterns of settlement, combined with the presence of stevedores and boatmen associated with the Grand Canal, among other factors, contributed to the north seeing considerable criminal and violent activity.<ref name=spence76>Spence, 76.</ref>

The area around the capital was largely less urban, and less densely populated than areas of the south. Centuries of taxing the soil had left the north comparatively less fertile, and thus less densely populated. Cotton and [[tobacco]] were among the main cash crops in the north at this time, and local or cottage industries such as coal mining, brewing, glassmaking, and cotton spinning and weaving were among the chief proto-industrial activities. Dispersed patterns of settlement, combined with the presence of stevedores and boatmen associated with the Grand Canal, among other factors, contributed to the north seeing considerable criminal and violent activity.<ref name=spence76>Spence, 76-77.</ref>

Meanwhile, the area around [[Hankou]], flanking the Yangtze River and extending south into [[Jiangxi province|Jiangxi]] and [[Hunan province]]s, saw considerable population growth from in-migration during the Qing, particularly in the early 18th century. Many of these people acquired loyalties to their new homes even as they maintained connections to their former towns or regions; this group also included many tribal peoples or other ethnic minorities pushed off their ancestral lands by various forces. Hankou developed into a major commercial and financial center, while [[Jingdezhen]], nearby, became one of the chief centers of porcelain production in China.<ref name=spence76/>

Meanwhile, the area around [[Hankou]], flanking the Yangtze River and extending south into [[Jiangxi province|Jiangxi]] and [[Hunan province]]s, saw considerable population growth from in-migration during the Qing, particularly in the early 18th century. Many of these people acquired loyalties to their new homes even as they maintained connections to their former towns or regions; this group also included many tribal peoples or other ethnic minorities pushed off their ancestral lands by various forces. Hankou developed into a major commercial and financial center, while [[Jingdezhen]], nearby, became one of the chief centers of porcelain production in China.<ref name=spence76/>

===Overseas Trade===

===Overseas Trade===