China has been boasting of its rich culture and sophisticated civilization for thousands of years. Even eight hundred years ago, China still prevailed the world in agriculture, literature and technology. The Western Europe, however, was at the dawn of a revolution. The revolution was so powerful that European science and technology were developed exponentially thereafter. In 1840 when Europeans opened China with thunderous cannons, the country laid in front of them was ridiculously primitive.
Why was China left behind given its glorious history?
Let’s travel back to the later 1400s in Europe. Besides tragedies (for example the Black Plague), military activities (the end of one hundred year war between England and French, and the retreat of Muslim Moors), and adventurous events (the discovery of the America by Columbus), there was also a drastic change in knowledge dissemination and acquisition in the society. People became interested in natural science and started to appreciate Greek philosophy. Universities were formed in major European countries. Even the practice of religion was questioned. Martin Luther started the protestant reformation. Something was definitely happening in Europe then.