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What most Americans don't realize is the fact that the Chinese were light years ahead of the rest of the world for centuries in just about every aspect of technology, inluding that of medicine. While *1421* (Ray's mention) is a very controversial work, based on much speculation and less accepted evidence, no scholar denies that China--until the Great Withdrawal of 1433--was unparalleled in the fields of science, inventiveness, and discovery. China today is doing a major version of "playing catch-up." Once they do catch up, they won't stop there, of course. In terms of our concerns on this list, according to Robert Temple (*The Genius of China*--recommended reading), the Chinese discovered that blood circulates in the body 1800 years before the West. They discovered circadian rhythms in the human body 2150 years before the West. They discovered the science of endocrinology 2100 years before the West. They were diagnosing diabetes through urine analysis 100 years before the West. They were innoculating against disease (smallpox) 800 years before the West. Let's not forget acupuncture and an unrivaled knowledge of herbology, massage, and surgery. Etc., etc. The Chinese invented steel, they invented paper, they invented gunpowder, they invented the compass, the stirrup, the fishing reel, the wheelbarrow, the iron plow, etc., etc., etc. (Has anyone ever seen the incredible bridges they made doing the Song Dynasty?) They had laws on motion many centuries before Newton. They thought up the helicopter long before Da Vinci. They came up with a refined value of pi a millennium before the Greeks. They did so many things because for so long they were not encumbered by restrictive polical squabbles or religious beliefs. Oh yes, if anyone questions Chinese former maritime supremacy, which Ray pointed out, compare Columbus's flagship, the 85-foot Santa Maria, with a Chinese treasure ship measuring 400 feet. The Chinese made European ships look like rowboats. Maybe the Chinese--if they return to world leadership in practically every scientific discipline--will be the ones to find the best treatment for PD. Who knows? Scott >===== Original Message From Parkinson's Information Exchange Network <[log in to unmask]> ===== >I saw on TV today that in NY people were hiring Chinese "nannys" so their >kids could learn Chinese. After seeing PBS program I started reading "1421 >The Year China Discovered America". About 1424 with the death of the >Emperor China turned inward and lost their maritime lead. Kind of like we >are surrendering our lead in science today and much more in the past 5 >years. Civilizations do not hold on to hegemony forever. I just copied >about half of the article, concentrating on stem cell research. >ray, MA History Scott E. Antes Department of Anthropology Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn