How Long to Read Salt and State

How Long Does it Take to Read Salt and State?

It takes the average reader 6 hours and 52 minutes to read Salt and State by Cecilia Chien

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

Salt and State is an annotated translation of a treatise on salt from Song China. From its inception in the Han dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.), the salt monopoly was a key component in the Chinese government's financial toolkit. Salt, with its highly localized and large-scale production, was an ideal target for bureaucratic management. In the Song dynasty (960–1279), fiscal pressures on the government had intensified with increased centralization and bureaucratization. A bloated administration and an enormous standing army maintained against incursions by aggressive steppe neighbors placed tremendous strain on Song finances. Developing the salt monopoly seemed a logical and indeed urgent strategy, but each actor in this plan—the emperor, local officials, monopoly administrators, producers, merchants, and consumers—had his own interests to protect and advance. Thus attempts to maximize the effectiveness of the monopoly meant frequent policy swings and led to levels of corruption that would ultimately undo the Song. Unlike other contemporary sources, the Songshi treatise organizes its subject into an intelligible and detailed narrative, elucidating special terminology, the bureaucracy and its processes, and debates relating to Chinese finance and politics, as well as the salt industry itself. Professor Chien's extensive annotation relies on parallel histories that corroborate and supplement the Songshi account, together providing a comprehensive study of this important institution in China's premodern political economy.

How long is Salt and State?

Salt and State by Cecilia Chien is 411 pages long, and a total of 103,161 words.

This makes it 139% the length of the average book. It also has 126% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Salt and State Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 9 hours and 23 minutes to read Salt and State aloud.

What Reading Level is Salt and State?

Salt and State is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Salt and State?

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