LogFAQs > #970391747

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

so is the Fire Nation really that bad? Rest of world also had powers, but didn't try to modernize.

Being able to bend fire is an inherent advantage in industry because you can more easily forge things. Trying to conquer the world also helps drive innovation.

In some ways, bending also hold them back. At the series' start, the most advanced technology you can see from the Fire Nation are steamships. The Water Tribes would have no reason to develop that technology because their water benders can just shift the water to propel their ships.