Why did Eastern and Western civilizations develop in different directions from the same starting point, and why did the West gain a technological edge?

The East and West shared the same starting point in the development of early civilizations, but revolutions and changes in thought gave the West a technological edge. The East was slower to develop due to conservative thinking, and this difference has continued into the modern era. Changes in geography and social structure in the West have also had a major impact on technological advancement.

 

From the past to the present, humans have continuously developed to better their lives. If we were to divide this process into two main parts, we would say that the East and the West have developed in different ways, due to differences in geography, culture, and historical background. Culture is relative, so it’s hard to determine its superiority. However, if we look at purely technological advancements, it’s undeniable that the West has been more advanced since the modern era. Western technology spread to the East, and during the age of imperialism, Western powers colonized many countries in the East.
Let’s think back to when civilizations first arose. The four major civilizations, Mesopotamian, Yellow River, Egyptian, and Indus, are considered the earliest civilizations. Europe and the United States, which we usually think of when we think of the West, are far from these early civilizations. This means that we can’t say that Western civilization was superior from the start. So why did the technological differences between East and West arise over time?
Perhaps the most important factor that explains this difference is revolution. The West, unlike the East, has experienced revolutions, both large and small. The Industrial Revolution, the Renaissance, and the Civil Revolution, to name a few. These revolutions were more than just social changes; they also spurred the development of technology and science. The difference in ideas between the East and West was made more pronounced by these revolutions. In particular, the change in the caste system was a major contributor to the development of Western society.
In both the East and the West, caste systems existed in the past, perhaps as a natural consequence of humans’ instinct to dominate one another. In the West, however, the rigidity of the hierarchy began to break down early on due to the Civil Revolution. As a result, people in the West had more opportunities to excel regardless of their status, which increased the dynamism of society as a whole and paved the way for technological innovation.
The difference in ideology between the West and the East is not only seen in the class system, but also in the attitude towards money. In the East, many countries, especially South Korea, were influenced by Confucianism, and the pursuit of money was degraded, and merchants were considered a lowly profession. In the West, money was viewed positively, and it was used to create new opportunities. This difference led to differences in economic structure, which in turn led to the West’s technological advancement.
The geography of the West was also an important factor: Europe was once organized not by nation-states, but by numerous families competing with each other for land. This competition pushed each family and nation to constantly seek advancement. In contrast, the East was characterized by the formation of nations on an ethnic basis, which led to less competition. In addition, diplomatic relations between Eastern countries were often favorable, for example, the relationship between the Joseon and Ming dynasties and the Joseon and Qing dynasties was so friendly that it was described as brotherly. These differences led to a desperate race to stay ahead of other countries in the West, which was a huge driver of technological advancement.
The differences in technology between the East and the West became apparent as a result of the Revolution. While the East had a head start in the development of early civilizations, the West reversed this through revolution, and the gap has remained in the modern era. The lack of notable revolutions in the East’s history may also be due to the East’s conservative thinking, which has stunted technological progress. Revolutions don’t just change institutions and social structures; they inspire new ways of thinking and pave the way for technological innovation.
Furthermore, the rise of figures in Western history can be seen as another form of revolution. For example, people like Napoleon and Einstein made game-changing innovations that had an impact on society as a whole. In conclusion, revolutions change people’s perceptions, and it is this change in perception that has made the difference in technological advancements. Beyond structural changes in society, revolutions open up new possibilities, which is one of the crucial reasons why the West is technologically ahead of the East.