This paper is on one topic with multiple sections or subtopics or issues to cover: Northern Europe historically lagged behind Asia and the Islamic world until about 1400 to 1500 when it experienced a transformation called the Renaissance or rebirth of the Greco-Roman civilization. This included advances in science and technology. It has been widely believed and still held today by many historians that this was largely a European endeavor owing nothing to the outside world. This view is increasing disputed by scholars with a more global perspective who argue the science and technologies upon which Europe was building were derived from Asia – largely China and India – and passed through to the West through the Islamic (and occasionally Buddhist) cultures of Central Asia and the Persian and Arab world. This latter is the position of this course and the reading. If you wish to differ with it, you still have to present it and the attempt to refute it. The view that Asia contributed little or nothing to European development gave rise to a set of beliefs about poverty and lack of science and technology in Asia and when Europe passed Asia in development. The following table (take the numbers as rough estimates) shows that it was not until the Industrial Revolution that Europe and European populations began to surpass Asian cultures in per capita manufacturing and it wasn’t until the period 100 to 1900 that European (including countries dominated by European derived populations such as the United States) development surge way ahead of Asia and the rest of the world. World manufacturing (1750 – 1900)

Answer

European countries lagged behind Asian in terms of technological developments up to

around 12 th century. Up to this time European countries used what is widely referred to as

medieval technology of the medieval Europe under the Christian rule. Since the 12 th century,

Europe has experienced a renaissance which saw them have radical changes and so many

technological innovations (Stasavage, 2013). The innovations included the invention of gun

powder, the use of vertical windmills, the invention of spectacles, and development of more

advanced water mills as well as advanced building techniques and architecture among many

more. This saw Europe surpass Asia especially the countries of Mughai India, Tokugawa Japan

and Qing China as well as the Ottoman Empire who were hitherto leading in terms of

technological advancements (Charles Holcombe, 2010).