Our debt to ancient China

By 2810184
  • writing on a oracle
    1600 BCE

    writing on a oracle

    the first writing on an oracle/bones
  • kites
    1600 BCE

    kites

    kites became a favorite pastime in china
  • acupuncture
    1026 BCE

    acupuncture

    acupuncture statues showing all of the needle points in the human body
  • paper money
    1000 BCE

    paper money

    the worlds first paper money
  • fireworks
    900 BCE

    fireworks

    gunpowder was first used for fireworks
  • the first book
    400 BCE

    the first book

    the first book was made of bamboo sticks and dates back to the Shang dynasty
  • the wheelbarrow
    221 BCE

    the wheelbarrow

    the wheelbarrow enabled a single person to carry a heavy amount. it was called "the wood ox" in Chinese
  • first seismograph
    130 BCE

    first seismograph

    the first seismograph (for measuring the strength of earthquakes) was invented
  • paper making
    105 BCE

    paper making

  • First magnetic compass
    1100

    First magnetic compass

    The first magnetic compass was made in ancient China, probably in about AD 100 using a lodestone. Some historians, however, believe Chinese compasses may date back to the Han dynasty