Technological Innovation Ten Thousand Years

Author: Chen Zejia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Technological innovation is not only a matter of mastering and applying knowledge, but also a matter of thinking methods. Scientists can innovate, and so can workers and farmers who have only attended primary school. From the history of technological innovation, we can gain a deeper understanding of its significance, process, and methods, thereby deriving useful insights. This book collects typical examples of technological innovation throughout human history for the past ten thousand years, focusing on those that have rarely been introduced before yet are closely related to our daily lives. The content covers various fields such as agriculture, transportation, industry, household appliances, food, medicine, military, and sustainable development technologies. It is rich in detail, illustrated with images, easy to understand, and worth reading. The book attempts to analyze the entire history of human technological innovation from the perspective of scientific development. Beyond explaining the process of innovation, it places greater emphasis on the guiding ideology and scientific methods behind it. It focuses on the historical context and objective conditions that gave rise to these innovations, seeking the inherent laws of technological innovation. The book narrates and analyzes the process of innovation in a comprehensive manner, rather than merely highlighting individual cases and events, allowing readers to grasp the overall principles and knowledge of technological innovation and enhance their awareness of engaging in such innovation. Additionally, the book is richly illustrated, further enhancing readers' visual experience and interest in reading.
China is one of the earliest countries to invent rockets. As early as the mid-11th century, our ancestors understood the working principles of rockets and even constructed simple ones. Historical records state that in the late 14th century, a man named Wan Hu from the Ming Dynasty once installed 47 rockets on a chair, attempting to ascend to the heavens using their thrust. Although the outcome was predictable, he is widely recognized as the first person to envision achieving flight through rockets and is respected worldwide. To commemorate his fearless and daring spirit, a lunar crater has been named after him. Over two centuries later, rocket technology spread to the Arab world and Europe. The earliest rockets were primarily used for fireworks and signaling. After reaching Europe, people began to consider using them as weapons in warfare. Of course, early rockets could not compare to cannons. India was also one of the earliest countries to successfully employ rockets as weapons. In the early 19th century, British inventor William Congreve noticed reports of the use of rockets by Indians to attack British forces. Later, Congreve dedicated himself to improving rocket technology, equipping them with explosive warheads, which detonated after launch, significantly increasing their destructive power. Additionally, he devised methods to extend their range. The improved Congreve rockets greatly enhanced their, accuracy, and power, beginning to demonstrate their effectiveness in warfare. At that time, rockets still retained a rod-like structure to ensure stable flight in the air. Britain began using Congreve rockets in the War of 1812–1815 against the United States, and other countries quickly followed suit in imitating them. Although the Congreve rockets had a rod-like structure, their flight stability remained unsatisfactory, which affected their accuracy and hit rates. In 1844, British inventor William Hale invented the spin-stabilized rocket. This type of rocket rotated during flight due to the gas expelled from its own propulsion system, resulting in highly stable flight dynamics. This invention not only freed rockets from their clumsy rod-like appearance but also greatly improved their accuracy and hit rates. However, by the 1890s, advancements in artillery technology had made cannons far more powerful than rockets, significantly diminishing the role of rockets on the battlefield. In the 1880s, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a Russian teacher, articulated the theory that rockets could be used for spaceflight. Before this, although Newton had formulated his third law of motion in the 1680s, few scientists had considered its application to rocket flight. At that time, most scientists believed that rockets could fly because the gases they expelled pushed against the air, generating thrust. In the vacuum of space, however, there was no gas, so rockets could not fly. 133-P135