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Chinese compasses were made with a magnetic mineral
called lodestone. Load stone 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. Travel -
The Chinese made this by arranging a series of paddles in a wheel. People walked on a treadmill to turn the paddle wheel, which moved through the water, pushing the boat forward. Travel
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The new Chinese bridge used arches that were a smaller part, or segment, of a circle. This made the bridges broader and flatter than semicircular arches could. Called a segmental arch bridge,
the new type of bridge took less material to build and was
stronger, as well. Travel -
The mechanical 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. Water made the wheel turn. Every quarter hour, drums would beat; and every hour, a bell would chime. The sounds let people know what time it is. Every day objects
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Before paper money was invented, coins were the only form of currency.Paper money was printed with wood blocks. Later, Song printers were using multiple wood blocks to print each bill. A single bill would have many colors. Everyday Objects
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Chinese alchemist looking for the secret to eternal life accidentally discovered gunpowder when working with salt peter. Military Technology.
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Printers used woodblock printing to make the cards from thick paper. Famous artists drew the designs that appeared on the backs of the cards. Everyday Objects
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Ancient Chinese flamethrowers contained gunpowder mixed with oil. The Chinese used them to spray enemies with fire. Military Technology
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Rocket technology was developed during the Song dynasty. Rockets were powered by black powder made of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. Later, the Chinese used them as weapons. They even developed a two-stage rocket for their armies. The first stage propelled the rocket through the air. The second stage dropped arrows down on the enemy.Military Technology
