11th January 2003, 6:50 AM
If I may offer my own theory on technology:
Technological growth is best kindled under certain circumstances: Take the 20th century, for instance. In the last 100 years, there have been more advances in technology than perhaps in all of human history. Before 1900, humans used trains, for a short time, but horses were also heavily relied upon for transportation, as they had been for almost all of human history. In less than a hundred years, we went from using trains and horses, all the way up to traveling to the freaking moon, or flying across the entire world in a matter of hours. We went countless millenia without these abilities, their advent was sudden. They ended up happening because conditions in the 20th century were right for it. Scientific discovery was openly encouraged, whereas before the 20th century it was looked upon with distrust and scorn.
Long periods of technological stagnation are pretty possible, even for thousands of years. Certainly advancement in the field requires a certain level of political stability. I don't know the Star Wars universe outside of the movies, but perhaps that could explain things.
Technological growth is best kindled under certain circumstances: Take the 20th century, for instance. In the last 100 years, there have been more advances in technology than perhaps in all of human history. Before 1900, humans used trains, for a short time, but horses were also heavily relied upon for transportation, as they had been for almost all of human history. In less than a hundred years, we went from using trains and horses, all the way up to traveling to the freaking moon, or flying across the entire world in a matter of hours. We went countless millenia without these abilities, their advent was sudden. They ended up happening because conditions in the 20th century were right for it. Scientific discovery was openly encouraged, whereas before the 20th century it was looked upon with distrust and scorn.
Long periods of technological stagnation are pretty possible, even for thousands of years. Certainly advancement in the field requires a certain level of political stability. I don't know the Star Wars universe outside of the movies, but perhaps that could explain things.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR