The scientific and technological factors of German economic rise and its enlightenment to China

Germany was founded 187 1 year. However, the newcomers of the nation-state in the European continent burst into great energy in a very short time and stood among the giants in one fell swoop. What is the reason? How does the painful proposition of unification and division affect the fate of this country? This paper will try to show the tragicomedy of Germany, which is nourished by classical music and radiates the rational light of classical philosophy, in the tortuous course of pursuing national unity and rising in the past 200 years from a historical perspective and a global perspective. At the same time, it also provides historical and civilized resources for discussing the development of the country, looking for a mirror for the current modernization development of China, and providing thinking for the progress of mankind.

With the northward flow of the Rhine, the days when we lived and the sinking sand witnessed by it have been integrated into the depths of history. The smoke over Germany has already dispersed, but the memory of history has not yellowed or faded. This country, which occupies an important position in the world history of the 20th century, was once a latecomer of the European continent. For Germany, the past 500 years have witnessed the coexistence of glory and shame, prosperity and decline, and the rigid society composed of war horses and shields has enabled it to quickly enter modernization. However, the modernization of the Second Empire was burdened with militarism and feudalism, while the Nazis were extremely violent. They pushed Germany to the road of conquest and expansion, which brought two disasters to the world and Germany.

When European countries have established nation-States, a piece of land in the middle of the European continent has been in a state of disintegration. Germans with painful memories of division call for a unified country ideologically. Through unremitting efforts, the road of political unification proposed by economist Liszt was realized, the establishment of customs union broke trade barriers, and the German economy developed rapidly. Bismarck, the bloody prime minister, struggled to survive in the cracks of European powers. After making full preparations in diplomacy, Germany was finally unified by three foreign wars in 187 1. He followed the principle of balance among European powers and brought valuable space for the peaceful development of Germany. Germany, which has always attached great importance to education and science and technology, quickly stood at the forefront of the second industrial revolution, surpassing Britain in more than 30 years and becoming the first economic power in Europe and the second in the world. However, Germany soon became the source of two world wars. After World War II, Germany split again. Through deep reflection on the war, Germany finally achieved national reunification in a peaceful way. The Federal Republic of Germany, the largest country in Central Europe, radiates the rational light of classical philosophy under the nourishment of classical music. It was once the birthplace of the second industrial revolution, famous for modern universities and scientific and technological inventions, and also the birthplace of the two world wars. It has hurt the world and itself with amazing destructive power. All this stems from this nation's collective memory of long-term division and war. Unity and strength have become the biggest driving force for Germany's development. In the tortuous course of pursuing national reunification for two hundred years, what kind of tragicomedy has been staged in this land that has repeatedly amazed the world? June 3, 2005, 10, German National Day. There were no large-scale celebrations in Berlin, and citizens spontaneously gathered in front of Brandenburg Gate to celebrate the country's birthday in their own way. Brandenburg Gate, Germany's national gate, witnessed the ups and downs of Germany's bumpy fate. The goddess who guards the door of national destiny, Germans call her the goddess of peace. However, two hundred years ago, the conquerors who captured the Brandenburg Gate snatched the goddess of peace from here. 18061On October 27th, Emperor Napoleon of the French Empire entered the Brandenburg Gate as a conqueror. Bonaparte. Napoleon led a powerful French army to sweep Europe like a hurricane and easily conquered the land of Central Europe. The goddess of peace was removed as a trophy from the Brandenburg Gate and shipped back to France. The humiliation came again, awakening the painful memories hidden in the hearts of Germans. In the past hundreds of years, this land called the European Corridor has been the battlefield of the whole of Europe. Germans often become mercenaries of neighboring European powers, killing each other in their own land. 1648, European countries signed the Peace Treaty of Westphalia after the "Thirty Years' War" for hegemony, and finally determined the division of Germany in the form of law. In this year, this land was divided into 3 14 countries. Although they also shared the name of "German Holy Roman Empire", when Napoleon's army invaded flagrantly in 1806, the so-called empire was unable to resist. Prussia and Austria, the two largest countries in the empire, suffered a crushing defeat, and Prussia was forced to cede half its territory and pay10.50 billion francs in war reparations. The Holy Roman Empire of Germany collapsed. When even a nominal country no longer exists in this land, people think of the sigh of the German poet Schiller: "Germany? Where is it? I can't find that place. "Schiller's friend Goethe simply said that there is not a city or even a place, which makes us firmly point out that this is Germany. If we ask this question in Vienna, the answer is that this is Austria; If we ask this question in Berlin, the answer is that this is Prussia. Where is Germany? This historic problem torments the soul of every German. German poets use poetry to explore the future of the nation; German musicians express their passion for struggle with notes; German philosophers use ideas to inspire supreme national worship. Interview: August, a professor of modern history at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany? The theme of Winkler Germany19th century history is unity and freedom. At that time, Germany was not a unified nation-state like France and Britain. /kloc-The German unification movement has been pursuing the establishment of a nation-state and a constitutional state in the 20th century. 18 14, Napoleon was defeated by the anti-French alliance formed by European countries. Under the leadership of Britain and Russia, a "German Federation" consisting of 38 states was established, but each state still has independent sovereignty. Because European powers have been reluctant to see a unified Germany rise in central Europe. After the defeat, France returned the goddess of peace, but the goddess of peace who returned to Brandenburg Gate still faced a divided Germany. Perhaps the reason why history is intriguing lies in its complexity and subtlety. Napoleon the conqueror aggravated the humiliation of this land, but Napoleon became the promoter of German reunification. He wiped out the feudal order that existed in this land for hundreds of years by force and spread the principle of freedom and equality advocated by the French Revolution everywhere. Under the guidance of the French Revolution, Germans began to seek to establish a unified and free country. Reutlingen is a beautiful and quiet town in southern Germany. For more than 200 years, the town has enjoyed Friedrich? The glory brought by Liszt. In the process of German unification, Liszt was considered as the most active and influential figure. Interview: Professor Oygen of the University of Reutlingen, Germany? Vendler Liszt believes that Germany can only compete with Britain and France if it is politically unified. This kind of unification can be achieved not by revolution, but by peaceful means, and Liszt knows very well that this kind of unification can not be achieved overnight, but should be realized gradually, that is to say, he thinks that Germany's economic union should be realized first. In the19th century, when people were still used to solving ethnic problems by war, Liszt's thought was obviously a little ahead. From economic unity to political unity, this is not only a unique vision of an economist, but also a bold idea. The realistic reason for putting forward this idea is that Germany's economic development is hindered by division. In the Customs Museum in Hamburg, there are some currencies used by German states. At the most, there were 6,000 kinds of currencies used in this land. In addition to chaotic currencies, countries have set up numerous barriers and imposed heavy tariffs. It's only a few hours' drive from Berlin to Switzerland, but at the beginning of the 9th century, they had to go through 10 countries, go through 10 procedures, exchange 10 currencies and pay 10 tariffs. On the one hand, these tariffs seriously hinder internal trade, on the other hand, they also hinder the development of German economy and the competitiveness of German products. It is for this reason that Liszt believes that if backward Germany wants to develop and reach the level of developed industrial countries at that time, it must eliminate these internal tariffs, create possibilities for the development of German economy and improve its international competitiveness. Liszt called on all countries to establish an all-German customs union, for which he lobbied everywhere. But many small countries deported him, and Austria, the second largest country in the German Confederation, called him "the most dangerous instigator". Because all countries don't want to cancel tariffs, the most important source of income. Liszt is weak. For a long time, he didn't have a fixed occupation and income, and he didn't have a formal assistant. But all this failed to stop him. For more than ten years, Liszt has traveled to almost all countries. Finally, Prussia, the largest country in the German Confederation, accepted Liszt's suggestion. Economic integration is like a trickle under the hard ice, slowly converging. The day of breaking the ice came relentlessly. 1 834+1October1day at 0: 00, on the borders of 18 German states, wagons full of goods flooded by, and for the first time in hundreds of years, there was no need to stop at the border to pay transit tax. The German Customs Union was established. Its leader is Prussia.

At different times, only those countries that make correct strategic judgments according to their own national conditions and the needs of the times can gain the favor of history.

By other's faults, wise men correct their own. A "world power" is not a big country in the sense of population and area, but a country with global influence after its history has become the history of the whole world. Originally, western powers should also include Canada, Australia, Italy and Austria. Perhaps the history of these countries is not typical enough; However, a small country like the Netherlands is included in the ranks of big countries. Obviously, the definition of a big country in this film is not measured by the size or quantity of land and population.

So, what are the similarities between the great powers defined in this film?

First, there has been (or is experiencing) the history or present of external expansion;

Second, once or now dominated the world, or colonial rule;

3. Experienced a bourgeois revolution that overthrew feudal kingship or colonial rule;

4. Outstanding performance in industry, science and technology, education, culture, military and social reform.

Fifth, it has had a significant impact on the historical development of the modern world (including both positive and negative aspects).

The ups and downs of big countries are also deeply moving. But what really moved me was some details. Dutch cargo ship went out to sea and was trapped in a big storm. When it was dying, it resolutely refused to use the customer's goods and desperately sent the customer's goods to the designated place, establishing a good reputation.

Every big country that has experienced ups and downs can be our teacher. Spain and Portugal tell us that it takes courage and curiosity to explore the unknown world, so that we can have things that others will not have; The Netherlands tells us that endless capital power can create miracles; Britain tells us that the rise of a country needs the support of scientific and cultural concepts; France tells us that conquering the world by force cannot make the conqueror stand in the position of king for a long time; Germany further confirmed the lessons of France with the failure of World War I and World War II; Germany also tells us that only a unified and complete country can embark on the road to a strong country; Japan tells us: to make the country rise, we need to keep learning and constantly improve ourselves; The rise and fall of the former Soviet Union tells us that great social changes need not only courage, but also wisdom. The United States of America tells us to find the most suitable way forward.

Regrettably, we are still far from the goal of becoming a big country today. Our huge body is empty, lacking advanced ideological and cultural foundation, but full of many feudal, corrupt, backward and ignorant things, including garbage from the West. With the total denial of the Cultural Revolution (including the denial of planned economy and Soviet-style socialism), there seems to be a "vacuum" in people's thinking. Old things have been denied, new things have not been established, and even a "crisis of faith" and a "cultural gap" have emerged. People seem to only believe in money. Whether it is Voltaire's enlightenment thought or Marx's Das Kapital; It seems that people are not interested in the Confucian way of the past and the market rules of today. Pragmatism, trading power and money, quick success and instant benefit, harming others and benefiting themselves have become "hidden rules" that many people follow. College students who graduated from Lian Gang also quickly slipped into the "pyramid scheme" gang.

The rise of Germany tells people that only unity can be strong.

When Schiller was still lamenting where Germany was, when Britain and France had stepped onto the world stage, Germany was still a few scattered countries. Napoleon's sweeping across Europe brought endless humiliation to this nation, but objectively cleared the old feudal order and brought new ideas of freedom and equality to France. Liszt's creative conception from economic unity to political unity brought the hope of reunification to Germany. The customs union made Germany's economy strong and laid the foundation for political unity. However, the failure of parliamentary system shows that a late-developing country must embark on a brand-new development path if it wants to be strong.

Bismarck's iron and blood policy finally unified Germany and promoted its development, while the national education and the improvement of the quality of the whole people contributed to the rapid development of the German economy and caught up with the electrification revolution.