Lynda Shaffer was a doctor who graduated from Tufts University, receiving her PhD in East Asian Studies and continuing her career by teaching the subject at the same university (Lynda Norene Shaffer). She published several writings during her lifetime, a notable example being the book China, Technology, and Change. She is a respected expert in the subject matter of Asian History, so much so that she was a founding member of the World History Association (Maritime). Because of this, her credibility and knowledge should be considered sound and reliable. Part 2: China, Technology, and Change In her work “China, Technology, and Change,” Shaffer claims that the three key inventions of gunpowder, the printing press, and the compass, which are known …show more content…
In China, however, there was much less of a reliance on walled fortresses owned by the nobility, due to long periods of internal peace (Shaffer 3). Because of this, the way gunpowder impacted Europe would have considerably different repercussions involving Chinese civilization. According to Shaffer, gunpowder would have an ultimately adverse political effect towards China, as it would help the Mongolian forces breach the Great Wall and bring an end to the Song dynasty (3). This led to mass devastation and the end of a dynasty that defined an era of progress, and created a turning point in Chinese history. As gunpowder would contribute to the end of Classical China and the beginning of modern Europe, both are just as revolutionary in terms of shaping the history of both …show more content…
In China, a corresponding effect would take place. The spreading of beliefs and opposing ideals by mass-produced text in the West was mirrored by the analogous changes in Chinese society, particularly with Neo-Confucian beliefs challenging the prevailing Buddhist theology that dominated at the time (Shaffer 4). This spurred on the adoption of a meritocratic tradition based on Confucian ideology, leading to the development of a comprehensive civil service exam in choosing government officials and the decline of the traditional nobility (Shaffer 5). Arguably, the printing press was much more transformative in China than in the West, as it would lead to a radical shift in the traditional and moral values of Chinese culture, advancing systems inspired by Confucian ideals onto the dominant political and hierarchical organization of