Technology is always improving.
技术总是在不断进步
but there is nothing like war to give an outsize advantage
但是没有什么能像战争 能够让在技术上稍占上风的一方
to whoever has that slight technological edge.
拥有如此巨大的优势
The gun improves when it arrives in Europe by trial and error.
经过反复试验 火枪传入欧洲后得到了改进
They want to increase their range,so what are they gonna do?
他们想增加射程 该怎么做呢?
They increase the length of the barrel because they know a bigger a powder charge will allow that ball to travel further in distance.
他们加长枪管 他们知道火药越多 子弹飞得越远
They're going to tighten the tolerances to increase the accuracy of that ball.
他们尽量减小偏差 加强子弹的精确度
They're gonna find a way so that it becomes a one-man weapon versus a two-man weapon.
他们想方设法 把火枪变成一人用枪 取代二人用枪
The real breakthrough came with a trigger mechanism,
真正的突破 是从扳机机制开始
a lever that operated an arm that brought this burning match cord down into the priming.
这是一个杠杆 带动力臂 将点燃的引线 带入起爆装置
Individual soldiers were now armed with something quite deadly,
现在每个士兵都配有 火力强劲
quite accurate, and extremely portable.
射击准确 易于携带的装备
What happens here in Spain...
西班牙发生的这一切
Will help propel Columbus to the New World.
将推动哥伦布发现新大陆