Study on the Social and Economic Background for the Development of Traditional Settlements in South Hubei

摘要

The social and economic background for the development of traditional settlements in South Hubei comes from two main factors: mode of production for mountain agriculture and the economy partly composed of handicraft business. The former factor displays the features of mountain agriculture. Mainly focusing on traditional farming, this area has developed handicraft industry such as paper-making and tea-making, which forms part of the local economic composition. Meanwhile, the business-type settlements have developed in the place where both the water and the land transportation are convenient and where commerce and trade constitutes a large part of the economy.