Chinese Discoveries & Inventions

By Santoroc
  • Period: 3000 BCE to Feb 16, 1400

    3000 BC to 1400 AD

  • 2700 BCE

    Tea

    Tea
    Tea made by letting tea leaves steep in boiling water was drunk mostly as medicine. INDUSTRY.
  • 250 BCE

    Compass

    Compass
    The first Chinese compasses were pieces of a magnetic mineral called lodestone. EXPLORATION/TRAVEL.
  • 200 BCE

    Steel

    Steel
    The Chinese first made steel, a very useful metal. Steel is made from iron, but it is less brittle than iron and easier to bend into different shapes. INDUSTRY.
  • 450

    Paddlewheel

    Paddlewheel
    The Chinese adapted this idea by arranging a series of paddles in a wheel. People walked on a treadmill to turn the paddle wheel, which in turn moved through the water, moving the boat forward. EXPLORATION/TRAVEL.
  • Jan 1, 618

    Great Stone Bridge

    Great Stone Bridge
    Many cultures developed engineering technologies. However, the segmental arch bridge is one of China’s most prized achievements. Bridges of that design stretch over expressways around the world. EXPLORATION/TRAVEL.
  • Jan 1, 650

    Printing

    Printing
    The invention of paper made another key development possible: printing. The Chinese invented a technique called woodblock printing. INDUSTRY.
  • Jan 1, 850

    Gunpowder

    Gunpowder
    Accidentally discovered by alchemist working with saltpeter looking for the secret to eternal life. MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.
  • Jan 1, 950

    Flamethrower

    Flamethrower
    Mixed with gunpowder and oil to make a powerful flame to spray enemies with a stream of fire. MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.
  • Jan 1, 1250

    Artillery Shells

    Artillery Shells
    Artillery shells, for example, exploded after being hurled at enemies by a war machine called a catapult. The sound of the exploding shells confused the enemy and terrified their horses. MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.