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Period: 200 BCE to 1400 BCE
Chinese inventions
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100
Paper
The earliest Chinese paper was probably made from hemp and then the bark of the mulberry tree. Later, the Chinese used rags. -
250
The compass
. The first Chinese compasses were pieces of a magnetic mineral
called lodestone. -
650
Printer
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. -
750
The mechanical clock
Dripping water made the wheel turn. Every
quarter hour, drums would beat; and every hour, a bell would chime. The sounds let people know what time it was. -
850
Gun Powder
The Chinese who first made gunpowder were alchemists, people who practiced a blend of science and magic known as alchemy. -
850
Game cards
Printers used
woodblock printing to make the cards from thick paper. -
850
Paper Money
Before that time, coins were the only
form of currency. -
950
The flamethrower
Early flamethrowers contained gunpowder mixed with oil. -
1049
The Movable type
Movable type consists of separate blocks for each character. -
1300
Rocket Technology
Rockets were powered by
a black powder made of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. At first, rockets were used only in fireworks.
