An Analysis of Social and Economic Situation in Suzhou before Taiping Army’s Expedition

In late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, the commodity economy in Suzhou tended to thrive and had the leading position in the whole country. However, to the years of Jiaqing Emperor, the heavy tax and turbulent situation exerted influence on the economic growth. The arrival of Taiping army brought the new economic thought, and at the same time they broke the Suzhou’s economic status of the past. Though its economy was still developing, both its speed and scale began to lag behind Shanghai. And gradually, Suzhou became the back garden of that place. Certain changes of the time were hidden behind the prosperity: rich merchants and numerous shops and stores.