-
550
In the pass
Printing The invention of paper made another key
development possible: printing. In about the 7th century,
the Chinese invented a technique called woodblock
printing. -
554
In the pass
The Development of the Mechanical Clock The Chinese developed the first mechanical clock in about the 8th
century. The new clock was more accurate than earlier timekeeping devices, such as sundials and hourglasses. The
Chinese devised a wheel that made one complete turn every 24 hours. Dripping water made the wheel turn. -
650
In the pass
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. -
650
In the pass
Steel Chinese first made steel, a very useful metal, before 200 B.C.E. Steel is made
from iron, but it is less brittle than iron and easier to bend into different shapes. -
750
In the pass
Industry Some of the advances made by the Chinese led to new industries. In this section, you will learn about advances and
innovations in the way the medieval Chinese made paper, print, tea, porcelain, and steel. -
850
In the pass
Improving Travel on Rivers, Lakes, Canals, and Bridges 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. -
854
In the pass
Military Technology During the Song and Mongol periods, the Chinese developed powerful weapons. -
950
In the pass
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. Earth itself is like a giant magnet with
north and south poles. Because lodestone is magnetic, it is
influenced by Earth’s magnetic poles. If you put a piece of
lodestone on wood and float it in a bowl of water, the
lodestone will turn until it points in a north-south direction. -
954
In the pass
The Development of Gunpowder 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. -
1050
In the pass
Porcelain is made by combining clay with the minerals quartz and feldspar. The mixture
is baked in a kiln, or pottery oven, at very high temperatures. The resulting pottery is
white, hard, and waterproof.
