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2700 BCE
Tea(Industry)
Tea is made by soaking tea leaves in boiling water. It was drunk mostly as a medicine. As of today, tea is very popular, and today people still drink tea for their health. -
250 BCE
Compass(Travel)
Chinese compasses were pieces of magnetic material called lodestone, but they soon replaced the lodestone with a needle made of steel. Chinese people used these compasses to navigate at sea -
50
Porcelain(Industry)
It is made by combining clay with quartz and feldspar and then baked in a kiln. The pottery is white, hard and waterproof, but it looks delicate and beautiful. It was a prized item for trade. -
150
Paper(Industry)
Early Chinese paper was made of hemp and bark, but later they transitioned to using rags. It was very important for recording and transmitting information, so it is as important to us to it was the ancient Chinese. -
750
Mechanical Clock(Everyday Objects)
The Chinese people created a wheel that completed a turn every 24 hours. Dripping water made the clock move. It made different sounds at different intervals, so people could know what time it was without looking at the clock. This was helpful to many people. -
800
Paper Money(Everyday Objects)
Paper money was also printed using wood blocks, like game cards. Each bill was colorful, and it allowed fair, weighted trade. Paper money is the most common type of money today. -
850
Game Cards(Everyday Objects)
Printers used woodblock printing to make the cards which were made of thick paper. Various famous artists drew the designs that appeared on these cards. They were used to play various games. Today they are as important as before, creating entertainment for many people. -
850
Gunpowder(Military Tech)
Gunpowder was discovered by Chinese alchemists experimenting with a mineral saltpeter, perhaps by accident. They discovered that saltpeter could be used to make this explosive powder. Gunpowder soon became part of China's arsenal of weapons, helping them in many ways. -
950
Flamethrower(Military Tech)
One of the first weapons to use Gunpowder, Flamethrowers contained gunpowder mixed with oil. It sprayed streams of fire at enemies. It was a dangerous yet useful Chinese invention. -
1100
Rocket Technology(Military Tech)(Song Dynasty)
Rockets were powered by a power composed of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. When rockets were first created they were only used as fireworks ,but as time went on they became a monumental Chinese weapon, winning many battles.
