Chinese Discoveries & Inventions

  • Tea(Industry)
    2700 BCE

    Tea(Industry)

    Tea is made by soaking tea leaves in boiling water. It was drunk mostly as a medicine. As of today, tea is very popular, and today people still drink tea for their health.
  • Compass(Travel)
    250 BCE

    Compass(Travel)

    Chinese compasses were pieces of magnetic material called lodestone, but they soon replaced the lodestone with a needle made of steel. Chinese people used these compasses to navigate at sea
  • Porcelain(Industry)
    50

    Porcelain(Industry)

    It is made by combining clay with quartz and feldspar and then baked in a kiln. The pottery is white, hard and waterproof, but it looks delicate and beautiful. It was a prized item for trade.
  • Paper(Industry)
    150

    Paper(Industry)

    Early Chinese paper was made of hemp and bark, but later they transitioned to using rags. It was very important for recording and transmitting information, so it is as important to us to it was the ancient Chinese.
  • Mechanical Clock(Everyday Objects)
    750

    Mechanical Clock(Everyday Objects)

    The Chinese people created a wheel that completed a turn every 24 hours. Dripping water made the clock move. It made different sounds at different intervals, so people could know what time it was without looking at the clock. This was helpful to many people.
  • Paper Money(Everyday Objects)
    800

    Paper Money(Everyday Objects)

    Paper money was also printed using wood blocks, like game cards. Each bill was colorful, and it allowed fair, weighted trade. Paper money is the most common type of money today.
  • Game Cards(Everyday Objects)
    850

    Game Cards(Everyday Objects)

    Printers used woodblock printing to make the cards which were made of thick paper. Various famous artists drew the designs that appeared on these cards. They were used to play various games. Today they are as important as before, creating entertainment for many people.
  • Gunpowder(Military Tech)
    850

    Gunpowder(Military Tech)

    Gunpowder was discovered by Chinese alchemists experimenting with a mineral saltpeter, perhaps by accident. They discovered that saltpeter could be used to make this explosive powder. Gunpowder soon became part of China's arsenal of weapons, helping them in many ways.
  • Flamethrower(Military Tech)
    950

    Flamethrower(Military Tech)

    One of the first weapons to use Gunpowder, Flamethrowers contained gunpowder mixed with oil. It sprayed streams of fire at enemies. It was a dangerous yet useful Chinese invention.
  • Rocket Technology(Military Tech)(Song Dynasty)
    1100

    Rocket Technology(Military Tech)(Song Dynasty)

    Rockets were powered by a power composed of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. When rockets were first created they were only used as fireworks ,but as time went on they became a monumental Chinese weapon, winning many battles.