Which canal system began under Yangdi to connect the Yellow River region to the Yangtze basin?

• A. Silk Road
• B. Great Canal
• C. North-South Canal
• D. Grand Canal

Answer: (D)

State-sponsored infrastructure to bind a large empire together is the theme. The Sui dynasty, under Emperor Yangdi, undertook an ambitious project to knit the northern Yellow River heartland to the southern Yangtze basin. This canal network made it possible to move vast quantities of grain and other goods from the south to the north, supporting the capital's population, the military, and administrative needs. By linking these key regions, the canal reinforced centralized control and economic integration across China.

This canal system is known as the Grand Canal. You might also see references to the Great Canal or the North-South Canal, but the widely recognized historical name for this project—the one emphasized in most accounts of its origins under Yangdi—is the Grand Canal.