Ancient China Timeline

By 2609504
  • 1600 BCE

    Oracle Bones

    Oracle Bones
    The first writing on oracle bones dates to 1600 BC.
  • 500 BCE

    First books

    First books
    the first books were made on bamboo sticks and date back to Shang dynasty.
  • 230 BCE

    The wheel barrow

    The wheel barrow
    The wheelbarrow enabled a single person to carry a heavy load and was called "the wooden ox" in Chinese. It was invented in 230 BC.
  • 100

    Compass

    Compass
    The first magnetic compass was made in ancient China, probably in about AD 100, using a lodestone. Some historians, however, believe Chinese compasses may date back to Han dynasty.
  • 105

    Paper was invented

    Paper was invented
    Paper was invented in China in AD 105.
  • 130

    The first seismograph

    The first seismograph
    The first seismograph (for measuring the strength of earthquakes) was invented in AD 130.
  • 900

    Gunpowder

    Gunpowder
    Gunpowder was first used for fireworks and was invented in AD 900.
  • 1000

    Worlds first paper money

    Worlds first paper money
    The worlds first paper money was invented in China in AD 1000 in the 11th century.
  • 1026

    Acupuncture

    Acupuncture
    Acupuncture statuettes showing all the needle points in the human body were in AD 1026. The same statuettes are still used today.

  • Kites

    Kites
    Kites became a favourite pastime in China in the AD 1600's (during the Ch'ing dynasty).