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We know from written accounts that the Chinese have been drinking tea since at least 2700 B.C. For several
thousand years, tea made by letting tea leaves steep in boiling water was drunk mostly as medicine. However, by
the 8th century C.E., tea had become a hugely popular everyday beverage throughout China. Tea houses had sprung
up throughout the country. A famous writer, Lu Yu, wrote a book, Cha Jing Tea Classic, describing how to
cultivate, prepare, and drink tea. -
Early paper was made out of hemp and bark from the mulberry tree. Later the Chinese would use rags to make paper
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The Chinese first made steel, a very well known metal, before 200 BCE steel is from out from iron. But it is less brittle than iron and easier to make shapes with.
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The first Chinese compass was just pieces of magnetic mineral called lodestone, it has evolved
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The people-powered paddlewheel boats allowed the Chinese to travel much faster on rivers and lakes. These boats
were also much easier to maneuver than other types of watercraft. People still use this type of boat for recreational activities. -
The Chinese found ways to make bridges better. A Chinese engineer completed a new type of a arched bridge
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The invention of paper made another key
development possible: printing. In about the 7th century,
the Chinese invented a technique called woodblock
printing. The printer first drew characters symbols on
paper. He then glued the paper to a wooden block. When
the glue was dry, the printer carved out the wood around
the characters, leaving the characters raised on the wood. -
Chinese alchemists accidentally discovered when looking for the secret for eternal life.
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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. Every
quarter hour, drums would beat; and every hour, a bell would chime. The sounds let people know what time it was.
