[Wilhelm Tell]

Nope. Actually, the "toothbrush" was invented in China c.1497

I didn't know that. Another Chinese invention. The Chinese were technologically ahead of everyone until 1500 or so and Europe began to surpass them. Around this same time, they had huge sailing ships -- actually container ships -- the hull was divided into watertight sections, something not tried again until the 19th century.

[null and void]

The Chinese bureaucracy killed the exploration. Too many new ideas were coming into China with the trade goods.

That they were able to utterly destroy all records of a trade network that stretched all the way to the Cape of Good Hope remains to this day one of bureaucracies greatest achievements.

It's why I in California, and you in Switzerland are not communicating in ideograms...