-
150
Everyday Objects
Paper The Chinese invented the art of papermaking by the second century C.E. The earliest Chinese paper was probably made from hemp and then the bark of the mulberry tree. Papermaking became an important industry in China. For more than 500 years, the Chinese were the only people in
the world who knew the secret of making paper. From China, knowledge of papermaking traveled to Japan and across Central Asia. -
Period: 150 to Feb 12, 1400
CE
-
250
Exploration And Travel
Several Chinese inventions made exploration and travel safer and faster. Some innovations benefited traders and
other voyagers who ventured out to sea. Others improved
travel on rivers, lakes, canals, and bridges within China. 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. -
Feb 17, 1400
Military Technoly
TDuring the Song and Mongol periods, the Chinese developed powerful weapons. The invention of gunpowder—one of the most significant inventions in history—made these weapons possible.he 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.
