Tag: Technology

The progress illusion

Oct 4, 2012

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by

lauraspinney

in Archaeology, Evolution, Journalism, Neuroscience

WHEN Admiral Zheng He led his fleet out of the eastern Chinese port of Suzhou in 1405, it must have been a sight to behold. The largest of the several hundred ships under his command were the size of modern aircraft carriers and housed 500 men apiece. The fleet made seven expeditions in all, to…