Furthermore, Southernization greatly influenced Westernization through the flourish of technological inventions. The southern civilizations, like China and India, created a vast majority of technological breakthroughs that benefit practically the entire world. Trade is a significant factor in the rise of civilizations and improvements to maritime trade were essential for the spread of innovations. First, the Chinese were able to create the ‘south-pointing needle’, otherwise known as the compass. During the Song dynasty the compass had been refined and used among sailors and was spread throughout the Indian Ocean Basin. By the mid-twelfth century the compass