Made In China: Famous Chinese Inventions (some dates are approximate

Although there has been many different forms of writing surfaces created before paper, paper remains the most popular surface to write and draw on. One day a Chinese man named Cai Lun created modern paper out of bamboo and silk. This was until A.D.105 When Cai Lun invented even more efficient paper that was a pulpy mixture of wood fibers and water. This changed many cultures because paper allows us to express ourselves in art and literature, that can be shared and influenced amongst many people.

In 132AD a scientist in the Eastern Han dynasty named Zhang Heng created the first earthquake detector. It was beautiful and featured 9 dragons and 9 frogs encircling the machine. Then on the inside there was a pendulum that would swing when a tremor moved it, causing a ball in the dragons mouth to drop into the frogs mouth facing the earthquake. This allowed modern day technology to create the Richter Scale in 1935 that measured
earthquakes more efficiently for safety and scientific purposes.

This intresting invention came to be around the Quin dynasty (221-206BC). Surprisingly, the compass was originally supposed to point South and not North. But, the first compasses were originally made on a board made of a magnatized stone called lodestone and a laddle like arrow sat on top. Without this amazing invention many great explorers and voyagers today may have never found the places that you know today.

Unlike what most poeple think, Pasta wasn't invented in Italy. Pasta was invented in China and is very commonly eaten there. China has been cultivating some grains like pasta for over 7000 years! They beat the Italians by about 2000 years. Though pasta is so old that exscavators found a bowl of noodles by a civilization that was over 4000 years old in China! Though this didn't have a huge impact on history, it did have a very large impact on culture as many italian/Chinese dishes include pasta.

Legend has it that gunpowder was haphazardly come upon by an alchemist looking for a mixture that would create immortality in human beings. Though along with this odd urban legend, gunpowder, can easily be one of the most important Chinese inventions to date. It has given us important weapons such as grenades and even for entertainment such as fireworks. But most importantly, it has allowed the world to fight and hunt more powerfully without swords and other simple weapons.

The soft material made out of silk worm eggs, was adored by many. It even helped China get linked to other countries because of the high demand of silk through trade. Silk also helped develope the name for the silk road in which people from many different countries would come and trade, and especially come for the silk. This helped China greatly in expanding trade then and now. Along with trading it has been a very populary used fabric by many. ( Dates may not be accurate)

One day a general named Jugo Liang invented what is now known as the wheelbarrow. Although the time period in which it was invented is sketchy, some references suggest during 118. The wheelbarrow was greatly used for an array of tasks. This includes barricades for the military, to carry heavy objects, and even for transportation. We don't exactly use it the same way the Chinese did, but it was a useful way to carry objects in the garden or on a work site.

One day in 549 two Chinese men named Ghonshu Ban and Mo Di invented the first kite. It was bird shaped and people took great notice to it, making it very popular. The kite was used to transport materials to the military, to fish, and to deliver propoganda to prisoner of war encampments. The kite encouraged modern day war technology, and pure fun for people around the world.

Made In China: Famous Chinese Inventions (some dates are approximate and may not be accurate)

Paper

Seismograph

Compass

Pasta

Gunpowder

Silk

Wheelbarrow

Kites