Chapter 6: Eurasian Social Hierarchies

The majority of the population of China was made out of peasants. This meant that about four to five people lived in one household. Representing two or three generations. Some peasants had land and were able to sell some in order to provide for their family. Some nearly had enough to survive. Nature, state and landlords made it that much difficult for peasants to live a stress free life. During the Han dynasty there was a lot of improvished peasants there last resort was to sell out to landlords and as  tenants or sharecroppers on their estates. Rents went as high as one half or two thirds of the crop. Many peasants began to rebel. Some joined a gang of bandits in  remote areas.What emerged from this was a massive peasant uprising known as the Yellow Turban rebellion. The yellow turban movement was looking for "Great Peace"  complete equality, social harmony and common ship of property. Merchants were looked as unproductive, making shameful profits from selling the work of others. They were stereotyped as greedy, luxury-loving and materialistic. Merchants were also looked at a social threat there wealth improvished others and deprived the state of needed revenues and fostered resentments. Dynasties sometimes forced merchants to loan large sums of money to the state. In both China and India birth social status for some people.