The Age of Discovery - 지리상의 발견

Perhaps the time that separated the east and the west so decisively as to making the latter become the dominant force over the former for centuries to come was the Age of Discovery. The 14th and 15th centuries did it all. By that time, the west's scientific and technological advancement was beyond reach by the east. When Ferdinand Magellan's fleet arrived at Moluccas on November 8, 1521, the entire Malay Archipelago was already under the firm control of the Portugal's naval force. The natives and their chieftains (rajahs) yielded to the force's unilateral demands. They were punished if they did not submit to the orders and directions of the Portuguese naval commanders. What the Portuguese had in possession were a few dozens of warships in the Indian Ocean and a few thousand soldiers deployed in the military posts surrounding the ocean. But the warships were equipped with cannons and artillery that could reap apart villages and settlements at whim. The roar and the sheer magnitude of the destructive power terrified the natives. The warships powered by cannons and artillery effectively subjugated the natives. They did it in Africa, India, Malacca, Moluccas, Philippines, and Japan. Later in the 16th through 19th centuries, they did the same in China.

The ship-building skills and knowledge were also developed beyond reach. The navigation skills and knowledge were also far advanced. With such superior knowledge and skills, the west went out the oceans to conquer, control, and colonize the east. The knowledge was really the power in that era. How did the west do it? It did not happen over night. It took centuries. The Renaissance Movement begot such brilliant scientists as Copernicus, Galileo and many others, and they passed their scientific discoveries for practical uses. The free spirit that encouraged expression of humanity and endeavors to pursue the curiosities in art, science, and literature led the Europe to be a flowerbed of blossoming all sorts of secular fields of studies. In that sense, the Age of Discovery indebted to the Renaissance Movement.

But that is one part of explanation for the advancement of scientific knowledge and skills. Another important part of it was that the discovered scientific knowledge and skills were preserved, arranged, and accumulated methodically overtime. Then they were passed down to next generations. To make that possible, schools and libraries were established and young minds were taught in formal educational settings. Apprentice systems and guild systems were established and skills were passed down from generation to generation. Kings and nobles were aware of the importance of such methodical efforts to develop, preserve and pass down the knowledge and skills, and they vigorously supported such efforts. Those efforts paid off. Portugal went out to the ocean first. Spain followed suit, then England. By the time England put their ships out to sea, the game was over. It dominated the whole world.

So what do we learn from the history?
Progress is achieved through concerted efforts and systematic arrangement of development, preservation, and passing to others. Haphazard trials, disinvestment, and disconcerted efforts would not materialize progress.