color shows the Muslim world (Abbasid Dynasty 750-1515)
China had more advanced technology than Europe
before the Renaissance
strong central government employed artisans
they did things on a larger scale: mass
production of cast iron
large-scale engineering such as the Great
Wall and irrigation and flood control
not a capitalist economy but there was
competition between the central and local governments and
a fairly powerful merchant class
edge runner mill
China used water power for a wide range of processes by the
5th century
water wheels to operate bellows for smelting
iron
edge runner mill for crushing
water powered astronomical clocks
Su Sung's clock in Kaifeng
Many inventions originated in China
The magnetic compass
gunpowder (for fireworks)
paper (papyrus was laid and pressed, not made using a
water suspension)
printing with moveable type
for some of these we can see evidence of a path of
transmission to Europe, others may have been independently
invented in Europe
The Arab (Muslim) world had more interest in science than
early-medieval Europeans
translated ancient Greek manuscripts
copied what we call Arabic numerals from the Hindu
large-scale trade led to the development of more
sophisticated banking practices
developed elaborate irrigation systems and more intensive
farming
but with limited interest in technological innovations
for production
Was Europe in the Middle Ages backwards after all?
Why didn't the industrial revolution happen in China or the Muslim
world?
How did Europe go from behind to being dominant
rulers in China and Muslim world were powerful and
suspicious of merchants and artisans
state control is an advantage early on, but in the long
run economic freedom is an advantage
capitalism developed in Europe (people could get rich by
starting businesses to produce things) because there wasn't a
strong central government
Europe had hustle
Europe came to believe in progress in a way other
civilizations did not
