Resources and Wealth

• Coins

Cowrie shells were used by the Chinese to buy goods in the market. Later on, an imitation of these shells were made from metals. The system of using of these metals were then used by the people with them chained together.

• Salt

In the second century BC, a method had been developed by the Chinese to extract salt from the underground with the help of steel drills. Before the method was invented, it was very difficult to the people in the parts of China far from the sea to get salt.

• Trade

The early Chinese traded with each other to add to their local resources.


A Han Emperor once sent a soldier to Central Asia and he then brought back information about goods that were available such as swift horses. China wanted these horses and people from Central Asia and Middle East wanted the Chinese silk. The trade began since then.


During the T'ang Dynasty, trade with the West was increased because they needed more horses for the army. By that time, China already perfected porcelain which became a high demand.