- Published: September 16, 2022
- Updated: September 16, 2022
- University / College: McGill University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 2
Our world is changing every day. New gadgets are being invented; extraordinary ways to make our lives more comfortable are being developed. Some of them will be forgotten in a year, others will be used even in the centuries. But only a few of them will give rise to the new discoveries and even to the complete change and improvement of the global world system. It is hard to predict what will such inventions be, but we can look through the history of inventions and find the most important ones for our development. In my opinion, one of them is the invention of the shipbuilding.
The water takes 71% of the surface of our planet. Through the whole existence of humanity, people tried to investigate these territories. Firstly, our ancestors tried to cross these uncharted paths using their body, which, of course, lead them to a tragic end. After that, they tried to create the first swimming facilities, such as logs on the rope, called rafts and canoe carved from a tree trunk. And, finally, the first leather-covered boat, propelled by human muscle power, was created.
Such simple thing, which seems to be ancient and useless for us, provided a great spurt in the trade and economic relations of our ancestors. It allowed widening the list of economic connections of each of the settlement. Furthermore, it has led to the fast colonization of the world`s territories. This invention has also helped to share the cultural and social specialties.
Another advantage of this discovery was its influence on the future. The shipbuilding sphere was developing and the new ways of exploration appeared. They were expeditions. People used bigger boats and the great amount of new ports to reach higher distances. That was the shipbuilding, which has helped Christopher Columbus to discover America. That has caused an unprecedented leap in the development of all of the spheres of humanity existence. It led the world and most of the developed countries to the golden century. This discovery became the basis for the inflow of gold unseen before. It also led to the impressive cultural leap among people. Many young boys and girls wanted to repeat to Columbus` feat, so they studied to become the true researches.
Another advantage of the development of shipbuilding was the parallel development of the navigation system. There are no roads and signs in the sea and sailors need to find the way to their destination somehow. That is why a lot of different navigation systems have been created. Sailors know how to orientate in the open world just looking at the sky and having a map. Such skill can save their life in a critical situation and lead to the shore.
But the humanity did not stop on the investigation of the surface of the world. When no territories for discovers were left, we began the preparation to explore the depths of the water. I do not separate these two processes, because both of them are connected with the exploration of water surface of our world and both of them are done, using the boats. However the first part of this process is already finished and we have already gained everything possible from it. But the second part is just beginning to develop.
However this jellyfish is not the only interesting thing to study in the underwater. There are a lot of creatures, living there and the main question is how they survive out there? What technologies do their bodies use to endure extremely high temperatures and pressure? The answers for these questions will even let us develop our skills in the exploration of the space.
However, there is no invention in this world, which would have only advantages. Such kind of transport is quite dangerous because of the unpredictability of nature. There is no ship in the world today, which could stand the powerful storm or withstand the impact of a rock or an iceberg. However, this industry is developing at an incredible pace and I am sure that soon it will become one of the safest ways to travel.
There is also one more drawback connected with this discovery. It is connected with the spread of diseases when the shipbuilding has just been invented. Many illnesses, unknown before, came to the European world from such continents like Africa and South America. It was connected with the slavery and poor conditions of people on the ships, while moving them from one continent to another. Of course, nowadays, this drawback is not so pronounced, but even now it is one of the ways for the diseases to spread around the world.
Another disadvantage I would like to talk about is that the invention of the shipbuilding is also similar to the invention of the new way to wage war. Missile cruisers, aircraft carries and many other types of war boats are created to kill and destroy. The things, created to bring something new, to unite the all of the people in the world, to bring wealth and peace was used to develop war.
Battle ships took the great place in the most important battles of most of the wars. They were used by the Vikings in their attacks on such powerful countries like England and Byzantium. Boats were used by pirates to attack and rob merchant ships. Battle ships were actively used in the Second World War helping the soldiers to reach any continent to fight the enemy or assist the foe. Possibly, that saved many lives, but even more lives left our world as the result of sea wars. However, it is not the weapon which kills; these are people, who use them in such way.
In conclusion, I would like to say, that, despite all the disadvantages, the shipbuilding is one of the greatest advantages of the humanity. It has brought a lot of other discoveries, which we are still using nowadays as well as the ships. I hope that in the future, this industry will not be destroyed by some other means of travel and transportation. And I am sure that there are still a lot of discoveries, this sphere can provide us with.