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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 -
250
Steel needle
The Chinese improved upon a previous compass which used lob stone instead of steel. Exploration and Travel -
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 -
Jan 1, 618
Sentimental bridge
The Sentimental bridge improved the bridges using arches instead of semi-circles to make them flatter. Exploration and Travel -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
