Question

What was an effect of the rise of the middle class in the Sung period?

Answer 1

The effect of the rise of the middle class in the Sung period is enumerated in the following points:

• The Sung dynasty became more democratic than it was before as the Emperor had to pay more attention to the middle class and their demands rather than that of the higher class.
• Many intelligent scholars, brilliant merchants, great artists, etc. emerged from the middle class.
• The middle class became more dominant in cultural and political affairs.
• The distribution of wealth and prosperity witnessed a balance as it began penetrating down to even the lowest strata of society.