1. If China had not been so isolated, in what ways do you think science would have developed differently there?

China’s civilization was so advanced in technology and science even though they did not
practice scientific methods during this period of time. However, it made China a leader in just
that “technology and science” (McCellan, 2008, P.122). During the Song dynasty China was
yielding high productions of rice due to the innovation in technology they developed on their
own, with tools that helped with production. Under the Ming dynasty China was also a world
class leader in maritime, they had their own ships and were transporting goods they produced
in through the Indian ocean. Through these and other wondrous advancements in China
without the help or influence from other civilizations, China has no reason or motivation to
seek outside talent and they could solely survive with their production. If China would have not
been so isolated to the rest of the world, they would have gained so much more. With the help
of science from other civilizations they would have dominated and mastered science and
technology to help themselves further and others. A final proposal suggests that because the
merchant classed remained largely peripheral to Chinese civilization, modern science could not
emerge in traditional China (McCellan, 2008, P. 139). Another belief as to why China did not
developed as well as it could have, was due to their development in written language through
pictographic writing, making it difficult to express scientific ideas, their authoritarian imperial
government did not allow for people to develop themselves in what they were naturally good
at, but rather forcing them to memorize material in order to pass their government exams, only
to be placed in a place of need. In my opinion power seemed to be the utmost important value
and the Chinese would not give opportunity to new advancements in science and technology.

McCellan, I. J. E., and H. Dorn. Science and Technology in World History : An Introduction. John
Hopkins University Press, 2008. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu.