This chapter reviews the major rural social and economic history which covers 1949 to 2009. This historical period can be divide into two phases，with the watershed of the reform and opening up in 1978. The author believes that during the first 30 years before the reform and opening up，China’s rural development and institutional change were subject to the goal of the revolutionary regime consolidation，which reflected the characteristics of military communism. In this stage，a large number of rural resources flowed to city economic sectors，and much supported the country’s economic development. With the start of reform and opening-up，a new generation of state leaders payed attention to the role of economic laws，and promoted the market-oriented reform of the rural economy and has made great achievements. The future to deepen the rural reform should continue to adhere to the market-oriented road.