A Theme on the Historical Development of Agricultural Economy in Northwestern China

The historical development of agricultural economy in Northwestern .China started in the West Han Dynasty and gained a considerable advancement in the Tang Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, the agricultural economy in different parts of Xinjiang achieved further development, but that in the Gansu Corridor shrank to a certain degree. A Careful survey of the process of the historical development of agricultural economy in Northwestern China shows that such effort of developing agricultural economy served only the need of military affairs. As a result, the development of agricultural economy has resulted in certain effects on the ecological environment in this region. Thus, some historical lessons ought to be learned in the present strive for the eco nomic development of Northwestern China.