Inventions of Ancient China
Paper - Paper was invented in ancient China in 105 A.D. by a man named Cai Lun and was used for monetary purposes and for entertainment purposes such as playing cards. The importance of this invention is quite obvious as it has communication easier over long distances and a great method of writing. The name paper came out of the word Papyrus which is a reed that the Egyptians used for writing. This writing material was spread throughout the world through the Silk Road and then paper became the new method of writing.
(Ancient China Paper, 2016) (Crumpled Paper, 2016)
Silk - The ancient Chinese found out how to extract silk from silkworm cocoons and silk became a item of wealth and was sold to people outside of China for great amounts of money. This item is still expensive even in modern times. This material was so valuable the emperors kept how to make silk a secret even to the extent that anyone who took silkworms out of China was sentenced to death.
(Ancient China Silk, 2016)
Printing - Though they did not invent the type of printing around today, they invented a type of printing which was wood-block printing in 868 A.D. and was made moveable 200 years after. Printing has advanced to an extremely great extent, the printing the Chinese invented was used through a wooden block(as shown below) and since then we have invented a method of printing that puts ink on to a piece of paper with a machine, then more recently, a machine that through plastic can make any 3 dimensional model imaginable. The printing of Ancient China was conducted using this method: Write the text backwards on a piece of paper, apply the paper to polished wood, then the reverse of the text is applied to the surface.
(Ancient China Printing, 2016) (3d Printer, 2016)
Compass - The magnetised compass was created in 4th Century B.C. In Ancient China this device was used for construction originally so buildings and homes could face the right way to be in harmony with nature. The compass was then eventually used for map making and navigation. These ancient compasses were at the time made of a material called lodestone which is a magnetised material that would be place on top of a bronze plate. Instead of magnetism to show directions that the Ancient Chinese used, in modern day, we now have satellites and digital maps that give us directions and that tell us where we are presently using GPS.
(Compass Chinese, 2016) (Google Maps, 2016)
Gunpowder - This is believed to be possibly the greatest invention of ancient China. The creation of it is believed to have come from alchemists trying to create immortality. The gunpowder they had created was then used to invent other objects such as one of the first grenades and fireworks. Gunpowder is still a object that is used today, in dangerous ways such as guns. The chemical combination that creates gunpowder is sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate.
(China Gunpowder, 2016)
Other inventions:
Boat Rudder
Seismograph
Kites
Wheelbarrow
Umbrella
Hot Air Balloons
How have these inventions impacted Ancient China?
These inventions have impacted Ancient China such as silk which had great economic gain for them as it was something they provided but never revealed how to get. Inventions like paper in China had massive influence in Ancient China as it provided a method of writing and communication n that still is in use around the world today. Compasses have also helped change the world as it is a great navigation machine, the purpose of a compass is still used today, but in a modernised way. Therefore China is responsible for many inventions which still has purpose and used in modern day and has impacted the evolution of China. (11)
Boat Rudder
Seismograph
Kites
Wheelbarrow
Umbrella
Hot Air Balloons
How have these inventions impacted Ancient China?
These inventions have impacted Ancient China such as silk which had great economic gain for them as it was something they provided but never revealed how to get. Inventions like paper in China had massive influence in Ancient China as it provided a method of writing and communication n that still is in use around the world today. Compasses have also helped change the world as it is a great navigation machine, the purpose of a compass is still used today, but in a modernised way. Therefore China is responsible for many inventions which still has purpose and used in modern day and has impacted the evolution of China. (11)