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3 BCE
The Chinese Compass
The Chinese developed the first
compass as early as the 3rd century B.C.E. The first
Chinese compasses were pieces of a magnetic mineral
called lodestone. Found in section Exploration/Travel. -
2 BCE
Paper/Paper making
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. Paper-making became an important industry in China. For more than 500 years, the Chinese were the only people in the world who knew the secret of making paper. Found in section industry. -
1 BCE
Discovery of medicine
Chinese knowledge of medicine and disease prevention dates to ancient times. Before the 1st century C.E., the Chinese developed a way of fighting infectious diseases. An infectious disease is one that can spread from person to person. When a person died from an infectious disease, the Chinese burned a chemical that gave off a poisonous smoke. Found in section Disease Prevention. -
450
The paddle
Within China, people often traveled by boat on rivers or across lakes. An innovation of a vessel called a paddle wheel boat made this type of travel must faster. As you push your paddle through the water, the boat moves forward. In the 5th century, the Chinese adapted this idea by arranging a series of paddles in a wheel. Found in section Exploration and Travel. -
Jan 1, 750
The Mechanical Clock
The Chinese developed the first mechanical clock in about the 8thcentury. The new clock was more accurate than earlier timekeeping devices, such as sundials and hourglasses. Found in Everyday Objects. -
Jan 1, 950
The discovery of Smallpox
Somewhere in the time of the 10th century, the Chinese discovered
how to inoculate people against smallpox, a dreaded
infectious disease. Inoculation is a way of stimulating a
person’s immune system to fight a particular disease. Found in section Disease Prevention. -
Jan 1, 1250
Weapons and bombs
In the 13th century, 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. By the early 1300s, travelers had brought the knowledge of gunpowder to Europe. Gunpowder forever changed the way people waged war. Eventually, weapons like crossbows, swords, and spears gave way to guns and cannons. Found in section Military Technology. -
Jan 1, 1300
Rocket technology
Rocket technology was developed in China during the Song dynasty. Rockets were powered by a black powder made of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. Rocket technology was developed in China during the Song dynasty. Rockets were powered by a black powder made of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. Found in section -
Gunpowder/alchemy
The Chinese who first made gunpowder were alchemists, people who practiced a blend of science and magic known as alchemy. Alchemists experimented with mixtures of natural ingredients, trying to find a substance that might allow people to live forever. found in the section Military Technology.
