China's History and Innovations (PDF)

From “Science: A Four Thousand Year History” by P. Fara China EC179 Fall 2024  Gunpowder, invented in China, was used for fireworks, mining, and weaponry. In Europe, however, it had a far-...

From “Science: A Four Thousand Year History” by P. Fara China EC179 Fall 2024  Gunpowder, invented in China, was used for fireworks, mining, and weaponry. In Europe, however, it had a far-reaching military impact, transforming warfare by leading to the downfall of feudal castles and altering the role of knights on the battlefield. The magnetic compass, also originating in China, was initially used for navigation and spatial planning. Its adoption in Europe revolutionized maritime navigation, paving the way for the Age of Exploration and advancements in global trade. Movable-type printing, developed in China, primarily served as a means to preserve and store information. In contrast, its introduction in Europe—over 300 years later—sparked a revolutionary transformation, driving social and scientific advancements and reshaping cultural landscapes. China's education system was characterized by its monolithic structure, prioritizing stability through bureaucratic rigidity and offering limited incentives for innovation. Meanwhile, Europe’s decentralized governance and the emergence of autonomous universities fostered an environment of critical thinking, debate, and rapid technological progress. The Silk Road a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, from the 2nd century BC to the 18th century AD; central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions. refers to certain land routes and sea routes that connect East Asia and Southeast Asia with South Asia, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Near East, East Africa and Southern Europe. derives its name from the lucrative trade in silk that was carried out along its length beginning during the Han dynasty in China (207 BC–220 AD).  The Silk Road trade played a significant role in the development of the civilizations of China, Korea, Japan, India, Iran, Europe, Africa and Arabia, opening long-distance political and economic relations between those civilizations. Many goods and ideas were exchanged, including religions, philosophies, scientific discoveries, and Technologies. Thus, the Silk Road was a route not only for cultural as well as economic trade among the civilizations that used it. Diseases including plague spread along the Silk Road. Chinese explorer Zheng He ship compared to Columbus's ship