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2700 BCE
Tea
The Chinese have been drinking tea since 2700 B. C. but it became popular in the 8th-century CE or 750 CE. This was teas time to shine. Tea helped the economy of ancient China. -
150
Paper
The Chinese paper was made from hemp and bark of a mulberry tree. They later used rags. Papermaking was a big industry in China. Paper was key to writing which is how we know about ancient China today -
650
Printing
The Chinese people first invented printing by writing characters on paper and then gluing the paper to a wooden block. When the glue was dry the printer made raised characters on the wood. This helped them to communicate information better -
750
Mechanical clock
The Chinese made a more accurate clock to help them keep track of time better. Dripping water made the wheel on the clock turn. Every half hour drums would be beaten and every full hour a bell would chime. This invention paved the way for the clocks we use today. -
800
Paper money
Paper money was made with the same woodblock that was made to make money. Multiple printers where making multiple bills by 1107. The printing of money advanced the ancient Chinese economy because it is easy to exchange and it isn’t expensive to print. Paper money is the most common currency to this day so it must’ve been pretty important back then. -
850
Gunpowder
The discovery of gunpowder empowered the Chinese. They made weapons that would explode. This gave the Chinese the upper hand because in a war they would throw these at the enemy and it would startle and confuse them. This gave the Chinese an extra advantage in battles to come. -
850
Playing cards
The printers used excess woodblock to make cards. Artists where the ones to make the pictures on the cards (kings, queens, jacks ex.). The game cards we use to this day where originally created by the Chinese -
950
Inoculation
People in ancient China used to get inoculated from the dreaded disease, smallpox. Inoculation saved many lives and eventually paved the way to modern medicine. -
1250
Artillery shells
These artillery shells piggybacked on the invention of gunpowder. Through gunpowder, these artillery shells where explosive. The Chinese would throw these at their enemy and they would explode with a loud CRACK!!! This would confuse the enemy and best of all, startle their horses. With confused ranks and terrified horses, this would be an advantage for the ancient Chinese -
1300
Rocket Technology
The Chinese made rockets to not only make fireworks but as a weapon. They went so far to make a 2-stage rocket. The first stage would make the rocket fly and the second would drop arrows that would rain on the enemy. This was a deadly powerful weapon that helped the Chinese in battles
