Importance of Scientific and Technological Development in China

Countries argon defined by a lot of factors, which include its geography, demography, engineering, thriftiness and military bureau. Whichever agricultural is superior in all(prenominal) aspects gets to be described as adept of the hearty-nigh provideful countries in the land, compar adequate the States, the British Empire, and Soviet Union, for cause. In the account of the military existence, these menti hotshotd countries were cognise as gentleman powers and were satisfactory of influencing other countries in major ways. In recent geezerhood, though, there is a nonher clownish that is slowly on its path on having such a title as well. This democracy is china. china fighte is a precise non adequate country non win beca call it is one of the largest and most populated countries in the creative activity moreover in a identical manner because it is one of the cardinal ancient finishs of the world. In terms of engineering science in the ancient world, china was in all likelihood not far behind. after all, mainland china was to the ancient world like America is to the rest of the world today. And in the symbolise 21st coulomb, chinaware is starting to forward motion again as it continues to improve its technology. after(prenominal) all, expert education gage shit a better environment for the hoi polloi of a country since it could gen agete them happier and defend goodish, satisfying lives (Spring 119).And truth richly, technology is one of the fall upon factors for a country to be cal guide in(predicate) or powerful. Whoever has the good technology is subject of holding the world in its grip. And since this newsprint is about the importance of scientific and technological development in mainland China, then it is cool off proper to discuss for the freshman term how the skill and technology of China developed from the archean times to the present. Anyway, China is an emerging power that given probably a ten dollar bill or so, at least, testament be subject to compete with America on equal footing. And that statement is not an out of work assumption. subsequently all, there argon now books like China Friend or foeman by Hugo de Burgh (2006) and China, Inc. How the Rise of the Next exponent Challenges America and the World by Ted C. Fishman (2006) that fully discuss and explain the facts behind that assumption. splendour of Science and Technology in China Pre- violet China Chinas comprehension and technology had been booming since the ivth atomic emergence 6 BC1. According to David Wright in his book The accounting of China, pre-modern China, which was 1840 and earlier, already had advanced technology in the aspects of engineering, agriculture, and warfare, to name a few.Apparently, there were a lot of inventions, discoveries and innovations that the Chinese already do years earlier the occidental world did the same thing. For example, in agriculture, the Chinese we re the head start to develop the adopt harness. This was a very important agricultural invention, since prior to its invention, the fire animals that were apply to plow the fields were harness slightly their throats and stomachs. (40) Of course, one can only imagine the pain those animals essential waste gone through.Not only would such a painful experience create an uncooperative attitude for the animal, just it probably could drop dead the animal if it carries a heavy load. With the trace harness, a yoke was placed across the animals chest from which traces or shafts connected it to a carriage. 1 He adds that it was only nine hundred years ulterior that medieval europium harness farm animals in the same way. At around the same time, the Chinese too did straight-line cropping, which was only practiced by atomic number 63ans in the 18th century AD, and in the one-sixth century BC, started apply an iron plow.In medicine, the Chinese already understood that the blood c irculates around the dust and that it is pumped by the summation around the second century BC. This intimacy was obtained by the Arabs who later(prenominal) beam it to Europe. in any case two centuries earlier, they were already using earthy gas as a actor for heating. They were c pay heede surface able to transport and memory it after a few innovations. And even more amazing is the fact that around the same time, someone in China already thought of the first-class honours degree faithfulness of Newton and defined a hardening properly as shown by Mo-ist literature (Wright, 41).Then, in 14th century BC, they were already using the decimal system and already understood and used the concept of a zero. The compass and crossbow excessively came from the Chinese. In addition, they were withal the first ones to use chemical and acerbate gas as weapons in contend (Wright, 42). Early Imperial China During earliest imperial China, around 221 BC to AD 589, technological innov ations in China did not cease. The Chinese were probably the first ones to use the power of rivers and streams and the waterwheel to produce power (Wright, 64). The fact that they already had this technology during that time is already amazing.Then add the fact that they real used this to power huge shout for iron-casting (Wright, 64). When I imagine the movies I lodge were there are medieval blacksmiths, all I can visualize are the smiths themselves or their assistants doing the bellows work. The Chinese were also the first ones to use intermission bridges. It wasnt really a flat pass then because the bridge followed the curved contours of the hang up rope. (Wright, 64) But later, the Chinese were able to salvage this after their invention and use of iron-chain suspension techniques1.Then, when they first invented paper, the first kind they make were so durable, rough and hard it was not only used for writing but also for clothing, light armor, mosquito nets, and curtains ( Wright 65). They were also the first ones to develop the stirrups for horses in third century AD (Wright 65) and invent and use a seismograph (Wright 66). The seismograph did not really measure the inspiration of an earthquake but it could provide the manner which dish uped the government officials to efficiently provide help to the affected area. The Chinese were already hang gliding and using parachutes long in the beginning da Vinci sketched his design of one.There were actual preserve events that the Chinese really did so like an emperor requiring prisoners to jump from unbound kites or an instance of a Chinese bound from a height and landing safely with the use of several large cone-shaped straw hats tied together to his body as written by the Chinese historian Sima Qian (Wright 66). Middle and Late Imperial China According to Wright, the technological ingenuity of the Chinese ceased after Mongol conquest. However, it was also during this time that the Chinese invented and perfected one of the most important inventions that had a peachy impact to the world, the pulverisation.The effect of this invention is an unquestionable fact and further discussion on it will be made later in the paper. Then, the Chinese also were the first to print books, but not feeling it egotism, via woodblock printing and invent the first movable type printing. They did the latter around 1040s, four hundred years earlier than Gutenbergs invention, but did not make further efforts on it since it was impractical to use delinquent to the thousand individual characters present in the Chinese writing. Then, they also made the first working mechanical clock and Mercator symbolize projections (Wright 96).In addition, the Chinese made the first vaccines against variola major virus and the first phosphorescent paintings (Wright 97). Spread of the cognition and technology outside China From the dissect of world history, one can lay that there are a bod of factors responsib le for how a certain country is today. For example, trade betwixt people and countries in the early times were an important microbe not only of livelihood but also of science and technology. Knowledge, customs and cultures can also be spread to a certain area of the world via, ironically, war or conquests and religious activity.For a number of the inventions and innovations of the Chinese, some were spread to other part of the world, two intentionally and unintentionally, probably by trading with other people and war. For example, disrespect efforts of the Chinese to prohibit its spread, the crossbow and secret of papermaking cool it spread anyway. Especially, the papermaking techniques, which was said to stand been watch by the Chinese for centuries, were supposedly divided up to the Arabs when those who knew it became prisoners after the Tang dynasty were defeated by Arab armies (Wright 65).Then, there are the stirrups that were probably piece of ground with westerners by the Avars, whom the Chinese also knew (Wright 66). For the most part, it was revealed that Europe, the Arabs and the countries near China, Korea and lacquer, were the beneficiaries of the science and technology of China. For example, for Europe, it was probably because it was then the superpower of the world. From world history, up until World War II, Europe had a lot of Asian colonies and having read split of the history of China, it can be seen that Europe was interested in China as well.After all, it repeatedly tried to commit both a friendly and not-so-friendly relationship with China. As for the Arabs, they were basically known to be vacate nomads and thus it is not impossible for them to acquit been to China and traded with them. And since there also came a point in Arabic history that they were able to build their own dynasty that spread by conquering in Asia, they must cast off been to China as well and tried to conquer parts of it. And of course, Korea and Japan ar e just neighboring countries of China. ordinal century to the present ChinaUnfortunately, I was ineffective to find more technological inventions or innovations that the Chinese invite made during this time. As Bodde mentions in his book, it is indeed puzzling that the Chinese did not flip the same scientific and technological revolution that really changed Europe and the rest of the Western world (3). After all, the Chinese did have a civilization that had existed for so long and produced so many useful inventions and technology that are truly the groundwork of todays pass on science and technology way before the Westerners did.To think that if the Chinese continued on with their work, it is interesting to think where they would be at this point in time. Would they be the superpower instead of America? But as Bodde writes, such decline whitethorn have something to do with the mindset of the Chinese during that time. After all, the Chinese do adhere to their Confucian beliefs which are opposed to war and contestation (3). Then, theres also the Taoist distrust of innovative technology (4). The complaisant aspect was probably partly a reason for the decline.Or maybe, as Bodde said, the Chinese recognised the hazards of an advanced technology (4). After all, technology is like a double-edged sword. It is exposed of defending ones self and at the same time fight others. Technology can help man have an easier life but it could also be used for his destruction. One of Chinas most important inventions pulverization Speaking of technology that had been used both for the good and bad of mankind, well now clack about powder.Its probably supernatural to say that it was actually used for the good of mankind when it has been primarily and most efficiently used in war. Well, according to Embree, the Chinese werent looking for gunpowder when they observed it during the Tang dynasty. In actuality, they were in essay of a pill that could fight aging (849) and prolong life, in short, a edition of the fabled elixir of life. The product was able to treat some skin diseases, fevers and ringworm. Its chemical formula was even included in some pharmacology texts.They called it huoyao, or firedrug, because of its explosive tendencies that led to fire in the alchemists laboratories. It was then later used for firecrackers and blasting and thus, its military applications were now realized. Conclusion It is ironic that the Taoists, who are known for their practices in prolonging the lives of its devotees, were the ones who produced the gunpowder which was able to do the exact opposite. As mentioned earlier, its application was chiefly in the military that used it to make bombs, grenades and cannons.Earlier designs of cannons used bamboo barrels. But they were probably able to improve it since bronze cannons that date anchor to 1332 were unearthed and are now at the Chinese History Museum. However, it was also discovered that as early as 1128, metal bombards were already used. Then, gunpowder was also used for its rocket-propelling capabilities which the Chinese used to develop . . . more than thirty different kinds of fire-arrows designed to rain stamp out on the enemy, explode, and catch everything around on fire. (Embree 850)The invention of gunpowder did not have as much impact to Chinese society as its introduction to the Western world did. After all, with gunpowder, Europe was able to move out of its medieval era via destroying the frontiers of the feudal castles that ruled it then and establishing a monarchy. This monarchy then further utilized gunpowder to strengthen and stabilize its position in Europe. It was later on innovated and used in guns and artillery and as the years go on in bombs, grenades, and everything else that explodes. But with the Chinese, the gunpowder did not have such an impact, as mentioned.Embree adds that it was because during the Tang dynasty, China was already a united empire and thus did not have feudal castles to destroy like the Europeans. Of course, the Chinese did not want to share the gunpowder and the other things they invented or innovated with it. What country would? However, they were unable to stop its spread. After using it to fend off invaders like the Jurchen from forests in the northeast and the Mongols, the Chinese still helpless to them anyway in 1127 and 1234, respectively. Then, the Mongols ruled . . .China and used gunpowder against the Southern Song, the Japanese, and kingdoms in sou-east Asia. (Embree 850) As for the spread of gunpowder to the west, the Arabs are for certain not the ones responsible, even if it appeared on the spur of the moment in Italy during the fourteenth century. Embree quotes an term by Lynn White, Jr. titled Tibet, India, and Malaya as Sources of Western Medieval Technology. Although the article does not explicitly mention gunpowder, what he says in his article is a probable explanation of how at least the techno logy of gunpowder all of a sudden appeared in Italy.White explains that it might be because of the striver trade in Italy. Since the Muslim slaves were sulky and almost always escaped and due to canonical prohibitions, the Genoese merchants thought of securing slaves from primordial Asia and made it the main source of slaves. It is not impossible for the Genoese merchants to do this since they are known to have been the first Europeans to have traded with the Mongolians, Russians and the Chinese (Embree 853). In addition, the slaves that were sold were of both sexes and were relatively old enough to have accurate memories of their own homelands.A study on the records of the slaves also revealed that the majority of the slaves came from areas near Tibet and China (Embree 852). Thus, it certainly implies that the technology of the gunpowder may have been carried through to Italy and into the Western world by the Asian slaves. And gunpowder is still relevant today as the other inve ntions that the Chinese came up with centuries ago. In conjunction with that though, the thought of what the world might have been today if it was the Chinese who did it continues to bug the mind.Anyway, it certainly seems that after a long rest, the Chinese government is taking steps to furbish up its scientific community. China has now accomplished its new science and technology oversight system that integrates science and technology with industrial and agriculture production. And with their chess opening up policy, its scientists and engineers tough on the worlds advanced level of scientific and technological development. Thus, planetary exchange and cooperation is now the priority of China since technology acquisition will continue to bring about changes in Chinas own technology (Yu 222).An example of this is the increase in the information and dialogue technology in China, which has one of the worlds largest telecommunications market. Its information technology exertio n has also been helping the economy common chord its gross domestic product (Qiang 2). Indeed, the reforms and opening up that China did brought positive effects, with a fast economic growth. With its continual development and improvement of its science and technology policies, it will certainly close the gap between those with other countries in the near future.