Chinese history

  • Tea
    2700 BCE

    Tea

    Tea We know from written accounts that the Chinese have been drinking tea since at least 2700 B.C. For several thousand years, tea—made by letting tea leaves steep in boiling water—was drunk mostly as medicine. However, by the 8th century C.E., tea had become a hugely popular everyday beverage throughout China. Industry
  • Steel needle
    250

    Steel needle

    The Chinese improved upon a previous compass which used lob stone instead of steel. Exploration and Travel
  • Paddle wheel
    450

    Paddle wheel

    The Chinese used boats to cross bodies of water and to make the process faster they attached paddles to wheel to make the vessel go faster. Exploration & Travel
  • Sentimental bridge
    Jan 1, 618

    Sentimental bridge

    The Sentimental bridge improved the bridges using arches instead of semi-circles to make them flatter. Exploration and Travel
  • Paper
    Jan 1, 650

    Paper

    The Chinese invented the art of paper making by the second century C.E. The earliest Chinese paper was probably made from hemp and then the bark of the mulberry tree. Later, the Chinese used rags. Industry
  • Printing
    Feb 14, 650

    Printing

    The invention of paper made another key development possible: printing. In about the 7th century, the Chinese invented a technique called woodblock printing. The printer first drew characters (symbols) on paper. He then glued the paper to a wooden block. When the glue was dry, the printer carved out the wood around the characters, leaving the characters raised on the wood. Industry
  • gun powder
    Feb 13, 850

    gun powder

    discovered accidentally by alchemists who were working with a substance called saltpeter. They were looking for something that would allow them to live forever. Military Technology
  • Flame thrower
    Feb 14, 900

    Flame thrower

    Early flamethrowers contained gunpowder mixed with oil. The Chinese used them to spray enemies with a stream of fire. Military Techology
  • rifles and cannons
    Feb 14, 1200

    rifles and cannons

    the Chinese used large bombs that were as explosive as modern bombs. Around the same time, they developed weapons much like today’s rifles and cannons. Military Technology