Inventions of the Great Ancient Chinese Empire (4 of 5)

[Bahutsauvage]

Well after a couple of centurys of western arrogance i guess we'll have to accept a little bit of it the other way round :)

[RealAlbo4life]

Hey guys, let's all be civilized and admit that both civilizations did invent a lot of different things at different times without knowing that they were already invented at the other end of the world...so neither one of them copied the other!

[misfit13091]

The Chinese dont invent they steal and take credit....The plow was inveted by the Egyptians so was paper. Many eastern martial arts moves are copied from Pankration which was invented by the Greeks. As for gun powder I guess you could say they "invented it" but really it was A Chinese alchemist trying to find an "elixer of life" and accendenty discovered it and ended up burning himself and the house he was working in. So much intelligence! XD

[Condom007of007Solace]

@misfit13091 If the plow, paper, and other things that were invented by the Chinese were invented by those other civilizations, Europeans would of adopted those inventions much earlier.

[misfit13091]

@Condom007of007Solace Exactly. If I recall correcty in one of these vids one English Navy officer said in his journal "He was amazed at how quickly the Chinese copied the pattlewheel tech of English ships" or something like that... I mean does it not make sense that Egyptians invent these things when they had more than 2000yrs over the Chinese and their is clear evidence on their walls showing men using plows and papyrus. This is all just in my opinion though based on my findings.

[Kimercutie]

now tht China is soon to be number 1. They are going to claim back all the inventions they made. :)

[keraider]

its funny how we Chinese invented most of the stuff westerners use to invade us lmao

[aczbdk]

@keraider

No you stupid, the only thing chinese invented is dog poop eating, Chinese cockroaches will never be able to defeat human beings!!!

[Acroniscopi]

everything is made in china dont argue, its a fact. even the back of your countrys flag is made in china.

[guiltytangent]

Europe and america have had more and superior inventions than the "Great Chinese Empire".

China's incompetent leaders are preventing the people from producing new inventions and improvements, much less improve their country.

[panzerschreck89]

@guiltytangent The incompetent leaders you claim of China, are buying up your debt... if you care to read the news...

[SSatanicRacist]

@panzerschreck89 And China has received trillions of foreign aid.... don't hear that on the news.

Ancient China = Amazing

Modern China = Shameful

[panzerschreck89]

@SSatanicRacist First of all.. Trillions? I don't think so... Considering how much you imperialist stole from the Chinese, Asia, Africa, Arabia and the Americas in the first place, your foreign aid is nothing...

In fact, for your little millions, the Chinese are accepting billions of worthless IOUs, in the form of bonds, just to keep the world alive...

Be grateful

Ancient Rome/Greece = Amazing

Everything thing after that = Shameful

[7Know7Thy7Enemy7]

@panzerschreck89 White's rape 90% of Africa,stole from the Chinese, Indians etc. They have no room to talk about borrowing any Aide. lol

[SSatanicRacist]

@SSatanicRacist You don't appreciate the people who leaded the way for modernization? The people who abolished slavery (sadly), the people who created human rights and allow the common folks free will?

At least we stopped imperialism and allowed countries such as China to develop, or would you rather be stuck in the midieval ages?

[panzerschreck89]

@SSatanicRacist Who are you to say we would be stuck in the middle ages without the help of Westerners? In fact I am pretty sure it was the Golden Age of Islam, that lifted Europe out of the Middle Ages

I cannot believe somebody who calls himself a Satanic Racist could talk about human rights or freedom or any other thing for that matter... Nobody could take you seriously..

[SSatanicRacist]

@panzerschreck89 Fuck you chink go back to Africa where the niggers are.

If it were not for the White man you wouldn't be yapping in the internet bitch.

But to be more polite, Im pretty sure it was the development of the Western World that led the rest of the world to modernization, you can't deny that.

[vault34overseer]

@SSatanicRacist Yeah, but for their own interest. Modernization? In Africa,they show the way of modernization and grab all the(including slave) things needed.In America and Oceania,they killed many native of and have modernization on their own. In Asia, we fought our own way, european still don't give much technology to us. Lead the way or avoiding it ?

(As for slave, chinese and persian abolish in 5th or 6th century BCE, european is the one(20 century)? don't try to make me laugh)

[panzerschreck89]

@SSatanicRacist Hahahaha.... just listen to yourself ... read what you are typing... this is how you speak in your home country?

The West leading the world? I think wide spread pillaging, raping, murdering, is what you are good at. I agree that many modern inventions are Western, but that is the result of pillaging. If I went over to your place and stole all your money, of course I could come up with more "inventions" than you!!

[panzerschreck89]

@SSatanicRacist Say hi to your racially superior Mr President for me please...

[HistoryHmoobGuy]

@guiltytangent I think your talking about the Japanese ! LOL

[rowanmark21]

Do not forget India!

[myrddinistheshit]

this documentary has a very clear agenda to promote asian pride even to the point of neglecting history facts.

[kokopelli314]

Too bad this is presented as a Chinese vs European invention contest.

[myrddinistheshit]

@kokopelli314 ridiculous contest, what s next? africa vs. europe?

[albinoman13bt]

It's funny the feverish need to be compared to Europe. Says a lot about this series and the people who comment this way. From what I see, the Chinese invented the basics of a lot of things, the Europeans figured out how to use them to their full potential.

[borbador]

the chinese make wonderful things they just don't know what to do with it and when...

[Bergertim]

Archimedes invented the Odometer, 1100 years earlier than the 10th century. Sorry, China.

[justicelogic]

We should thank and repect that the Europeans tells us our own histories so clearly and scientifically. And, don't look down to anyone including ourselves because of one-time-mistake. Encourage all men on earth with love and good understanding.

[ervin920]

when the Chinese understood magnetism, Europeans were still foolish enough to think their was magic. when the Chinese had grand cities in xian and a social civilization, in europe those barbarians were still killing each other over food and land. when china was the wealthiest empire in the world, Europe was still in the dark ages fighting plagues. and comparisons continue for 1800 years straight. the west must be very proud that they had to kill natives and steal land to become so great today

[samus404]

@ervin920 yes we are because its all daid off. stop whining that europe has done betetr than chian in the long run. You say they understood magnetism? and that europeons belived it was maigc? well surprise surprise the chinese also belived in magic but not from magnetism but from mecury and the first empror killed himmself with it trying desperatly to stay alive for ever. You cant shift all that on to europeans china has its fair share

[samewish]

古代中國的確是很強盛﹐但是西方國家也很厲害改變很進步各個領域

各有千秋不能否定對方的貢獻﹐我們必須放眼未來和進步讓中國恢復­以前的強盛吧~

[donguinto]

The GREATEST  invention is YouTube, otherwise, people won't be debating here.....lol

[zprodigalson]

Europeans invented colonialism and introduced opium to the Chinese. If it wasn't for the Chinese invention of paper, Europeans would be wiping their ass with their hands.

[xxTeutonicKnightxx]

@zprodigalson Herd of papyrus? That is were the word paper comes from.

Europeans would be wiping their as$ with closths or a type of papyrus. :D the more you know.

[zprodigalson]

@xxTeutonicKnightxx Egyptian papyrus and Chinese paper are 2 different inventions. Look it up. Papyrus is made from criss-crossing strands of papyri whereas paper is made from PULP of woody material. The word "paper" is indeed derived from the Greek term for "papyrus", HOWEVER, the word "paper" is also later used to describe the Chinese version of this material. Example: "sandpaper" is ironically NOT made from "sand" but this product is still referred to as "sand"paper.

[zprodigalson]

Also, my comment regarding wiping our ass with paper was meant to be a JOKE. Any fool knows that before the use of toilet paper, people use other material to wipe their ass such as leaves, wood chips, rags, and even smooth STONES! There's no need to be so petty to ruin a funny joke.

[zprodigalson]

I think the best invention was paper. Otherwise, we won't be able to wipe our ass.

[ervin920]

@zprodigalson and america couldn't print currency

[coltec111]

@zprodigalson the best invetion of western is the politic religious opera of crusades, even now, it 's the basic method for the western to survive. rob of everywhere with an opera politic et religious. but so disgusting

[98bigbutt]

The white man were always copied ideas from people of color.For example the creation of Rock n Roll.It was originally created by blacks but then the white man took Elvis Presley and he copied the ideas from the blacks and presented it to white audiences and took the title as the King of Rock n Roll.

[xxTeutonicKnightxx]

@98bigbutt /watch?v=852OWMNYSu8 So the West took all this from the East and Africa?

[98bigbutt]

@xxTeutonicKnightxx,yes.

[Aeon333Flux]

@shermanlee85856 americans arent stupid in fact a way better then the english at least they didnt steal at least they helped develop korea JApan etc

in fact many things china had they developed centuries before the EU. in fact china had the best army in the world. in fact if china didnt disolve their army they wouldnt lose the war agains the english and thats fact england today wouldnt be so great.

many things england claimed to be discovered here they stole from china and other places.

[maxkaamsut]

@Aeon333Flux i think china best invetion is martial arts. best ever next to music and other sports

[xxTeutonicKnightxx]

@maxkaamsut Martial arts was all over the world. In fact the word martial arts comed from the Roman word "The art of Mars"; meaning a fighitng system is a art of the God or War. So yes there was martial arts in Europe and ells were to.

[donguinto]

@Aeon333Flux Yes. Many things claimed to be "discovered" or "invented" in Europe actually came from the Chinese including the "inventions" of Da Vinci and the "discovery" of America by Columbus. There are two new bestselling books written by Gavin Menzies that talk about these topics. Look him up on google. This info will astound many. The books are: 1421: The Year China Discovered the World , 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance

[xxTeutonicKnightxx]

@donguinto LOL the Renaissance movement started at 1390 or 1400.

[donguinto]

@xxTeutonicKnightxx ROFLMAO

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@donguinto You have no idea what you are talking about. Menzies claims that the Florentine Italian polymath Leonardo Da Vinci was inspired by the "Book of Agriculture" (農書) written by Yuan-dynasty scholar Wang Zhen (王禎) to make his famous sketches of machines and engineering projects. Yet the comparisons Menzies attempts to make between the two are dubious. Professors who are experts in the field of Renaissance illustrations and art, like Martin Kemp (Oxford University), refute Menzies entirely.

[donguinto]

@EricMetalGuitarist Many "experts" have the right to refute. The "Book of Agriculture" aka "Nu Shu" had too many "coincidental" similarities, although Da Vinci's drawings are more sophisicated. I wouldn't be surprised if the Vatican have archives that they don't want to reveal to the public like they have done with Biblical manuscripts. The Church is known for corruption and suppression of knowledge even to the point of burning books. History is often biased and determined by "peer" review.

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@donguinto No, Wang's treatise is pronounced "Nóng Shū", not the "Nu Shu". In either case, any similarity between any one device in either book is rather superficial. Your odd contempt for peer review tells me all I need to know about your level of knowledge regarding how science and academia really work. Sure, the Church suppresses a lot of information even to this day, but their general suppression of information does not prove Zheng He sailed to Italy, now does it? Find a better argument.

[donguinto]

@EricMetalGuitarist Nu Shu or Nong Shu, it depends who the translator is. Same book. You're telling me peer review and official history is never biased? Also, let me tell you something about "fact". Evidence and be distorted or witheld and thus any fact presented thereof is not neccessarily truth. That's what people can glean from Menzie's books and that's also what I'm saying. People in academia is not exempt from bias.

[samus404]

@Aeon333Flux why so much hate on the english? tbh china was intelligent but then stupid at the same time they found out alot of stuff but then never did anythign with them. they found gun powder for example but then made bloody fireworks with them and thats it!

[Saitothesushi]

@samus404 You couldn't be more wrong. Chinese invented the precursors to rpg's, the katyusha rocket launcher other bombs fuses. They also played with the mixtures.

[samus404]

@Saitothesushi they still didnt develop it which is what my whole point is about the reason why every thing seems to come fromEU or america is beace we developed it futher and made it famous

[Saitothesushi]

@samus404 Fair enough, but what i was trying to say was that the chinese didn't just make fireworks. They had lancers that could be shot in battle and many other thing i do not wish to list.

[donguinto]

@shermanlee85856 Chinese are very intelligent, but Americans are not stupid. Human beings are all the same. We all originated from God. However, Chinese culture have been around for milleniums, therefore, it's natural that they were the first to invent alot of things. America have only been around for less than 300 years. If people learn to work together peacefully and recognize that we are all one family, we can solve many problems of today such as hunger, racism, pollution, etc...

[darknessb930]

They are just "behind"... ok, they are kinda dumb... not meant to be racist or anything and, true, they only existed 300 years *estimate* but they caught on fast..

[Aeon333Flux]

im not english nor American or Chinese. i do live in England and know how arogant racist English people are.

Today i learned a new thing about England i didnt really know.

the English are morons thats for sure they stole from Africa America and so many others and the whole industrial revolution that english claim it come from england.

Im sure they stole everything from China.!!!!

4th of July for Scotland United Ireland and a new American colony called england !!!

[shermanlee85856]

@Aeon333Flux In fact the very symbol of english, tea came from china ,china started drinking tea centuries before the english started, their english tea with dead tea leaves is just a dubed down variant of chinese tea which is extremly expensive in the past because of the live tea leaves, that the english could not afford thus they drank a mixture of dead and live tea leaves.

[byusfuku1]

so i guess everything is made in china

[jagga0ruba]

"the cross indicating east represented the direction of the homeland"

Yeah, also indicates the direction of India which was the destination of the first navigators... but speculating only with the arguments that support our view is always better for this kind of documentaries.

So you're all trying to tell me that the vikings and the Cathigians were navigating on open ocean without any orientation instruments? yeah... ok... not taking credit to the chinese., but how come all the certainty?

[nerdbomb07]

@jagga0ruba Actually he said "holyland" which makes a little more sense given the context of that part of the video.

Do a little probing around various sources and you'll realize that no, Vikings did not have tools such as the compass and sextant, they relied on their extensive knowledge of the sky, prevailing winds, and geographical landmarks for navigation.

Furthermore, I don't recall them really navigation on "open ocean", North Sea and Mediterranean are large, but not quite oceans. 

[jagga0ruba]

@nerdbomb07 Well there's already proven evidence of Vikings reaching North America, and Carthigians reaching subsarian Africa, maybe they did it all by navigating close to the coast, but that would be like playing russian roulette everytime you leave on a boat.. Plus it's really hard for me to believe that the Chinese developped navigation tools and never expanded overseas back then...

Then again Pacific Ocean is way larger than the Atlantic...

Thanks for the clarification on the holyland ;)

[Temp1330]

@jagga0ruba well, from 1405-35 AD, the Chinese Emperor Zhu Di and his son Zhu Zhanji sent seven expeditions into the South Pacific and Indian Oceans with each expedition utilising hundreds of ships each ship ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 tonne displacement.

[jagga0ruba]

@Temp1330 Thank you very much for the information... had no idea of that, but why were they searching to the east instead of opening trading routes to the west?

[Temp1330]

@jagga0ruba Sorry it was South China Sea not South Pacific.

[nerdbomb07]

@jagga0ruba Sorry for the one month long response. Just wanted to pop by and say that I am aware of Viking presence in North America (think there are heritage sites on the East coast of Canada too, shouldn't be too hard to visit some time). With due credit to the ancients, it was quite possible to navigate either by hopping through greenland and iceland (the gaps are smaller than it looks on standard map projections).

[nerdbomb07]

Also, sailing across the open ocean was like russian roulette, even when columbus sailed it was risky and many ships wreck.

China did expand with a grand fleet, but the situation was complicated. China was too unified of a country, without outside pressure a moronic emperor decided to employ isolationist policy, and technology became stagnant. Europeans, being fragmented as they are, could not afford this isolationist policy unless they want to get steamrolled by the many countries around.

[Graymoths]

The Chinese were also known for their divination techniques. Remember the Ouija board? That many people condemn today as a portal to another dimension? It was first used by the Chinese to communicate with spirits. The Chinese were also one of the first to practise pyromancy, geomancy, alchemy, etc. Fascinating.

[laubeatz]

such an amazing civilisation, im glad to be chinese..

we need to give more credit to the original creators

cant argue with facts, so i dont like all the discrimination going on..

just enjoy what every civilisation has contributed to human kind

[stimsWonderland]

Can't really blame Europeans for all the mystical stereotypes of the Asians, truly the Asians back then seemed to have been steeped in it.

[gabe228]

man the chinese were so superior to the rest of the world for thousands of years, much of civlization's history

[mattphat23]

oh it's one of the Lara Croft voice overs! i love her voice! :D

[maugustyniak]

3:40 Seee! Useless church! Monotheistic religions hold us back! Christianity, its originator Judaism and Islam are utter CRAP!

[moguy128]

Also what's crazy is the fact that back then no one even understood what magnetism was... damn that's just insane.

[moguy128]

That's amazing... the chinese were the first to invent the compass too. Craziness. Very interesting program.

[Nightwithe]

Bullshit

[TheSuperintendant]

this documentary is full of speculation.. a lot of the points it is trying to make are still in debate. Do not take this whole documentary as fact.

[ltmikepowell]

@TheSuperintendant Are you proud of your denial and ignorance?

Assuming that some are speculation. You need to know that some of our modern gadgets, were invented by the ancients.

[EricMetalGuitarist]

??? This video claims Europe didn't really start using the compass until around 1500. WTF? European sailors had been using the compass since at least the 1180s AD. That's only a century after the Chinese scientist Shen Kuo first described the compass in the 1080s AD.

Hell, common sense would at least suggest Columbus used a compass for his voyage to the Americas in 1492. The people making this video need to do their homework.

[TsangBokyan]

you're fucking stupid

he said "fairly common" not "started using"

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@TsangBokyan

Hey smartass, the compass was commonly used in European sailing LONG BEFORE 1500, so in fact, you are fucking stupid.

[TsangBokyan]

again, you're the one without basic comprehension skills. i never said it wasnt "commonly used in European sailing LONG BEFORE 1500" ; in fact, i only CORRECTED you and said that HE (Look, a THIRD PERSON PRONOUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) said "fairly common", not me.

duh, duh der.

so what are you trying to say? we all still know the chinese invented it. yeah, so what if columbus used it in 1492. he still says that the europeans discovered it from chinese in the 1200s...

whos fucking stupid again..?

[ltmikepowell]

@EricMetalGuitarist Then what happen to Europeans explorers at that time? Then why South America and Africa not being explored?

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@ltmikepowell

At which time? The late 12th century? At that time European lords and monarchs were investing resources and manpower in defending territories in the Levant captured during the Crusades, especially holy sites like Jerusalem. They knew nothing about what lay beyond the Pacific Ocean. Although the steering rudder was a new technology, medieval Europeans in that century lacked a decent ocean-going vessel like the later caravels and carracks of the 15th century.

[ltmikepowell]

@EricMetalGuitarist Well, during that time Europeans were mostly obsessed with Jerusalem conquest. While fail to realize that other parts of the world, is developing something that they may found useful in the future.

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@ltmikepowell

Right, Medieval Europeans were obsessed with Jerusalem because of its prime religious significance in Christianity. That and the Arab world, built on top of the old Eastern Roman Empire (half of which was conquered by the Arabs), was bustling with lucrative trade in spices and silks, which no doubt fueled the Crusades as much as religious fervor did. Imperial China has had its moments of mass religious movements: Yellow Turban Rebels, Taiping Rebels, etc.

[paddlepopkid]

much of what is discussed completely lacks creditability! its always > may have... is likely to... suggest that... because fact is westerns were far more advanced and far more ahead... its like its actually China catching up to west today..! not Europe and America catching up to china! plus we are better looking than the ugly chinese!!

[chengda85]

yes, it was indeed Europe catching up to China up until the 1700s you ignorant fuck, and you are ugly as shit.

[paddlepopkid]

whatevazz you twat..! firstly, its actually the chinese government trying to instill the idea of china being more advanced..! there is hardly any evidence of china being superior to europe! i went to beijing in 2008 to support the aussies, and i'v been to europe! you only need to look around both territories and tell me which is more beautiful and was more advance..! the most gorgous towns with stunning architecture dating from Ancient Roma and Greek times!!

[canadianfirzen]

ancient Roma and Greek architectures used cement instead of wood, and they didn't get destoried by the later dynasties or empires unlike Chin. And most importantly cement is easier to shape. But that is not the point, the most beautiful things of China needs to be discovered since it is all destoried, if you can't treasure the beauty of the culture, why do you even bother go to Beijing??

[ltmikepowell]

@canadianfirzen You should know different culture, different structure mindset. Do you know China have abundance of wood? You must know that cement, is expensive to use. And perhaps Chinese reserved this luxury to the walls and fortresses.

[canadianfirzen]

@ltmikepowell what did I say? I forgot.... Chin never uses cement.... they started using cement only for like about 100 yrs....

[ltmikepowell]

@canadianfirzen Then how the Great Wall of China is made around 200 B.C.? Woods and sticks? Well, in your thought it is.

[canadianfirzen]

@ltmikepowell using hammed earth...... and yes occationally woods and sticks....

[canadianfirzen]

@ltmikepowell cement was used only when modern China started going.... Cement is not how Chin used to build their fortifications... Actually Chin build their fortification using rammed earth... which is actually great as well.....

[ltmikepowell]

@canadianfirzen Rammed has been a building technique since the dawn of our civilization. I may not have any detail, but I suspect the Qin builders to have their say, adhesive like cement.

[canadianfirzen]

@ltmikepowell cement was used by minority ethinic ppl in CHina about 6000 yrs ago.... but still Chin don't use them at all..... in fact u don't really need to using Chin building techniques

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@canadianfirzen

The ancient Romans invented concrete in Italy, I believe in the 2nd century BC. The ancient Qin and Han fortifications were indeed rammed earth. Some Qin and Han wall parts and watchtower ruins still stand today in northern China. Later, the Chinese preferred making walls totally of brick and stone, such as the early Ming Dynasty walls which surround the old urban center of Nanjing, for instance.

[canadianfirzen]

@EricMetalGuitarist Actually Chin still uses rammed earth under the bricks........

[canadianfirzen]

@EricMetalGuitarist bricks were used only to stop the corroding from rain water, and strengthen the walls... the main body is rammed earth

[paddlepopkid]

the European continent (lets not start on USA...Canada..Australia...New Zealand, coz we too are superior) is way more beautiful and has more to offer than china! the ancient chinese peoples and governments were too power struct and science revolved round trying to find elixers to live forever..? how sad..! europe was home 2 wealth and great thinkers...its our genetics! plus you fuk you don't know anything about me... i use to do modeling when i was younger! im just not attracted to yous at all

[ltmikepowell]

@paddlepopkid Buddy. At least be humility for some times. It'll make you feel better.

[RoniCMaster]

@paddlepopkid Tell me that in 20 years.

[paddlepopkid]

plus you dumb-arse genetic flawed dip-shit!! chinese like to think they were advanced in science in technology!! like look at all the laws of physics..?? chinese scientist..? ummm NO! Biological i.e genetics, evoluation, organisims and cells, health, geology of the earth etc..? what bitch,, these scientist were chinese..? yea dude charles darwin is such a chinese name, as is Louis Pasteur, and Mendal, Isaac Newton the list goes on...yep these people were all chinese and studied in chinese uni's

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@chengda85 What? European astronomy, geography, and other sciences had bypassed the Chinese sciences by at least a century earlier at the beginning of the 17th century, not the 18th. A great deal European astronomical and mathematical treatises, even classical ones from Ancient Greece, were translated at the court of the late Ming emperor Wanli 萬曆. This was thanks in part to Matteo Ricci and his Chinese counterpart Xu Guangqi 徐光啟, but others followed. Also see Johan Schrek's "Qiqi tushuo" 奇器圖說.

[magical11]

@EricMetalGuitarist What? The Chinese had astronomy before Christ was born, so what are you talking about? And even if the West managed to 'bypass' the East, China was far ahead of the western world for at least 1000 years. Europe was only ahead for what, 200 ish years? And then they trampled on ever single civilization on the world. Not exactly deserving of their fortunes.

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@magical11 So? Systematic astronomical observation started in Europe with the Greek astronomer Eudoxus, a 4th century BC contemporary with China's earliest true astronomers, Shi Shen and Gan De of the Warring States Period. It is true that Sui, Tang, and Song China were ahead of Europe during its Early and High Middle Ages, but even by the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, Europe was back on its feet in terms of enhancing science and technology, as well as education through new universities.

[magical11]

@EricMetalGuitarist That wasn't the point I'm making, and even if you look at the Renaissance, you see that the only reason it happened was because of the East, Turks, and Byzatines. All that knowledge didn't pop out of nowhere. What I'm trying to say is that both civilization made great things, and that's that. But most people will agree that China has contributed much to the world, maybe even more than Europe did.

[magical11]

@EricMetalGuitarist Plus, it's a bit hard to compare Ancient Greece with China. That would be like me trying to compare the First Natives of NA with Europe, and saying that Canada or America was a backwater society. The inventions and innovations of Ancient Greece can't really be thought of as those of Europe in the sense that "Europe" didnt even really exist yet. If we compare Europe, we should stick to Europe, not the civilizations before it.

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@magical11 Barring the fact that ancient Celtic and Germanic tribes were primitive in comparison to the great urban civilizations of the time, you do realize that Greece is not only located in "Europe", but is also the foundation for Western Civilization, right? In Europe's Middle Ages, higher learning was dominated by ancient Greek mathematics, philosophy and astronomy, particularly that of Aristotle. Rome, a Hellenized civilization, was the first to spread this throughout Western Europe.

[magical11]

@EricMetalGuitarist Are we comparing European inventions, or everything that was once in the area we call Europe? If we did that, then technically I can bring out information of those that came before China did. Bringing in Greek inventions is not an example of Modern European inventions, as Greece might have laid the foundations, but they aren't what we call Europe. Plus, comparing all of Europe to China is a bit unfair, no?

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@magical11 Well, you could compare Europe/The West to the "Sinosphere" of East Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Barring brief moments in Korean and Japanese history, China was the undeniable powerhouse of scientific and technological advancement in the region. Although European countries have their own languages (most of them based on or heavily influenced by Latin) and various cultural traditions, they are part and parcel of a greater "Western" civilization.

[EricMetalGuitarist]

@magical11 And as a matter of fact, I don't think it is unfair at all. Remember, China was an empire, that is, a conglomeration of previous Warring States with different languages and ethnic backgrounds fused later into one Han Chinese identity. Most of Europe was once under the Roman Empire, which was also a conglomeration of many different peoples who eventually considered themselves "Roman", especially after citizenship was granted to all freemen in the "Constitutio Antoniniana", 3rd century.

[zeiitgeist]

@EricMetalGuitarist however with a diverse ethnic identity that may help fuel progress rather than a homogeneous body that can only rely mostly on itself. If you look to early civilisations they most likely were battling nature accelerate development. Also most of the Chinese inventions does not appear all about the country but at coastal region and Eastern China.

[canadianfirzen]

Chin gov do not say Chin are superior, they don't even try to preserve Chin culture until very recently, when the west started to preserve Chin culture first. In fact Chin gov tries to make us think that China has never been this flourish before, which is not the truth. China is a lot more flourish than now until the mongols come in reshaped the Chin history again and made it more feudal ever since. And if you are so ignorant and proud of yourself i feel sorry for you

[canadianfirzen]

Europe is very lucky. It is engulfed by sea, and mediterranean sea is the most peaceful of all. It is surrounded by major civilizations, which they can learn through contact and trade relationship very easily. Their greatest scientific leap happened during Alaxander period, where all the accumulative knowledge of other civili come to europe, and this is when great thinkers come out. Unlike China which is surrounded by all kinds of natural and man made barriers, Europe is quite free

[canadianfirzen]

Europe is hard to be attacked and easy to defend, this has been proven many times, and shown by "The Battle of Thermopylae". Europe don't really lack that much precious metal, China lacks precious metal the only metal that is abundant in China is bronze. Although not as fertile as China, Europe is very fertile too, plus they have mild mediterra sea compared to the unsafe pacific ocean that China had. China had to be more focused on agriculture unlike Europe who can be both agri and trader

[canadianfirzen]

China needs to cope with floods, invasions, bad road conditions, hurricanes, earth quakes almost every single year in Chin history. Do Europe have that much problem? No not that much. As China become more feudal and closed after the mongols, Europe was going into renaissance. Unlike the feudal China who always refused to learn from outside, Europe is willing to get innovations, so at the beginning Europe is standing on other's shoulders and knowledge to rise up already.

[canadianfirzen]

Unlike Europe which consists of many civilizations, who is surrounding China? Japan, Korea, mongol, manchu, Viet, Tibetan, uighurs? They actually get more influence from China than do China from them. And unlike European's exploration enthusiasm, Chin don't risk their lives doing this, they think it is not worth it, and since Chin firmly believed that they are stronger than all other empires,they think that all ingenius inventions are small tricks that do not contribute to the great country

[canadianfirzen]

European textbooks and such seldom mention scientists from other part world. Do they even mention about scientists from Arab world who influenced Europe a lot? No they don't! I think that solves your problem, we are talking about a different time period, we are not even talking about the same period, how can you compare them like that? And I don't think you even know about scientific development a lot do you? Europe always dominate the world in technology and inventions? No everybody took turn

[canadianfirzen]

if you ever wonder why China is as feudal as it is. There are three main reasons: 1. China has a big population that makes democracy very hard. 2. China had flood almost every year, and managing these requires tremendous power, and this could only be done with feudal power. 3. China is a agri civil losing their land is like losing their lives, so when faced with outside threat they will choose to unite. There are several small reasons as well like Chin have traditional value and stuff.

[canadianfirzen]

and when China is as feudal and traditional as they are. They can't surpass the open minded European's for sure. From the time when the emperor abolished all other studies but only Confucious, for sure China would be passed by Europe someday. However, history always take turns, the once glorious and powerful nations always fades. So there is no need to be so arrogant and ignorant. History will always prove I am right.

[trousien]

@canadianfirzen dude you wrote a whole essay on china... calm down i think waht should be more important is that dude who pretty much invented calculus. i guess the documentary folks have no idea what the hell calculus is. but damn he invented calculus and theoretical numbers etc... makes me proud to say that asians invented calculus if not math not europeans.. thus making us naturally superior in math

[chocomocha]

That's is the most smartest invention is to invent something that can predict the movement of the planet.

If i was to give you a brief, 'INVENT SOMETHING THAT CAN PREDICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE PLANET' ..

what will u design? .. It can't be out .. it has to be new...

[clapyourhandsify]

@chocomocha that's nice But the laws of planetary motion was discovered by the Dane Tycho Brahe.

[danpt2000]

The South Pointing Carriage from 1st Century AD in China: possibly the world's first device with differential gears.

[3AngelDefense1844]

Do you believe Gavin Menses thesis that the Chinese travelled around the world first?

I think it is quite plausible.

[guillermogg75]

It is plausible. Nevertheless, what is more important is to really have an impact on your actions and be the first to implement something which trascends what done up until that moment.

[3AngelDefense1844]

Perhaps living an upright, moral, and awake life would be something which transcends life. Telling the truth, being unselfish, and protesting injustice could be transcendent. Possibly living like Jesus is the most transcendent thing one can do.

[guillermogg75]

I totally agree with you!

[danpt2000]

Funny thing is, to outsiders, Taiwan people look just like the "Chinks".

[UncleWankerJonny]

That can be classed as racism y'know.

And why can't racist pigs like YOU simply disappear forever? that would do everyone a big service!

[danpt2000]

Well, if u see the world based on daoist philosophy, you would know that racist pigs would not, or should not disappear forever.

[UncleWankerJonny]

I've just realised, thats Lara Croft's voice :P

really interesting. :)