3. Eastern Empires 東方帝國 （公元11至12世紀）

Chinese civilization has had several peaks but the Song Dynasty was perhaps the greatest: Zhu Xi (pictured above) established Neo-Confucianism; printing, the compass and canal locks were developed; and Chinese painting reached its apex. Meanwhile, Islamic, Indian and Southeast Asian cultures produced great achievements, from Persian poetry and math to Angkor Wat and Jain temples. Meanwhile, Europe started climbing out of the Dark Ages with the first industry and monuments such as the great medieval cathedrals and castles.

中華文明歷史上經歷過多次繁榮，但宋朝也許是其中的巔峰：朱熹（上圖人物）創立了新儒家學說（譯者：應該是指朱熹理學）；活字印刷術、指南針和運河水閘（譯者：這個我們國內很少宣傳）得到了發展；中國繪畫藝術也達到了頂峰。同時，伊斯蘭、印度和東南亞文明取得了大量的成就，從波斯詩集和數學到吳哥窟和耆那寺廟。而此時，歐洲正在走出天主教和城堡統治下的中世紀黑暗時代。