1、中国为什么不能工业化(英文).doc

Why was China unable to industrialize during the 18th and 19th centuries? (Discuss economic ideas, conditions and government strategies to support your argument) 题目：18、19世纪，中国为什么不能工业化？ 提示：讨论经济思想，经济状况和政府策略 China had once been one of the countries which were the most advanced in technology and most prosperous in economy in the world. However, industrialization did not sprout in China in 18th century when industrial revolution was booming in the west and it was more difficult for China to industrialize in 19th century when China was forced to open door. Why China was unable to industrialize in 18th and 19th century remained a question which confused many people including the celebrated scientist Joseph Needham who put forward the famous Needham Puzzle. My superficial, immature and unthoughtful opinions about the puzzle are as follows. First and foremost, the economic thoughts which guided the Qing government and businessmen contributed a lot to the Chinese inability to industrialize. Chinese people had two kinds of economic thoughts which supplemented each other, stressing agriculture and limiting commerce and moderating desires. Stressing agriculture and limiting commerce was the most basic economic guidance thought of Chinese feudal dynasties. It proposed that a countrys economy should base on agriculture and agriculture should be attached more importance than commerce. As a result, commerce was restrained and people were encouraged to be occupied in agriculture. For example, at the beginng of Han dynasty, merchants were prohibited from wearing silk which represented honor and heavy taxes were placed on the merchants. Merchants received reduced profits and some even faced bankruptcy. The occupations of the society was divided into four types, intellectuals, peasants, workers and businessmen. It can be obviously seen that merchants stand at the bottom of the society though they were reluctant. Merchants were not willing to settle in the bottom class and once they ac