Discovering Chinese Technology Ancient Chinese ingenuity lead to the development of new products and processes. Through cultural connections, these new innovations eventually reached reached the West and changed European practices. Chinese inventions have changed the modern world. Many of these inventions are still in use today.

Discovering Chinese Technology Activity Each student or team chooses a piece of the puzzle. Use the Internet to find out about Ancient Chinese Inventions. Be ready to share your piece of information with the class. On your paper, record the following information: 1.When was it invented? 2.Where was it invented? 3.Who invented it? 4.What did the Chinese use it for? 5.How did the invention reach the European world?

Blast Furnace

Movable Type

Rocket Rockets were invented in China between the ’s. The first rocket was a bundle of fireworks attached to a bamboo stick with an arrowhead at the tip. Feathers and weights were used to balance the rocket. Rockets were not seen in Europe until the late 1300’s.

Kite Between the fourth and fifth century B.C. kites were invented in China. The first kites were shaped like birds. They could fly up to 3 days. Kites were not seen in Europe until 1589.

Paper

Abacus

Gunpowder

Printing Press

Wheelbarrow It was first invented in the first century B.C. The wheelbarrow was used to help farmers Carry piles of crops from one area to another. It was not used in Europe until 1000’s.

Compass

Paper Money Paper money was invented in the 800’s. It was called flying money because it was so light it could blow out of the one’s hand. A special paper was placed on a metal plate with ink and the paper is stamped to become currency. In Europe it was used in the 1600’s.

Helicopter Rotor

Umbrella The Chinese invented umbrellas. They were made from oilpaper and attached to bamboo stick frames. The royalty used red and yellow umbrellas and the common people used blue umbrellas.

Matches It was invented in the 500’s. They were used by servant ladies who needed to light cooking and heating fires. Little pine sticks with sulfur on the tips were used to light fires. Matches in Europe were not used until the 1500’s.

Mold Board Plow This type of plow was invented in the third century BC. Farmers used this plow for turning and the soil before planting the corps. This plow had an iron plate in the center that ended in sharp point. This point was used for cutting into the soil.

Silk Silk was one of the most valuable items produced by Ancient China. The making of silk began around 600 B.C. Most silk is made from the cocoons of the caterpillar, also known as silkworm. When silkworms spin their cocoons, the fibers they create to make a cocoon are silk. The cocoon is twisted into thread. The thread is then used to make fabrics. Silk was so popular that the a 4000 mile long road from China to Europe was called the Silk Road.

Seismograph This device was invented in the 100’s. Because China has always experienced earthquake, inventing a device to read the magnitude was important. The first seismograph looked like a large vase. On the outside of the device were 8 dragonheads, facing the 8 main sections on the compass. Below each dragonhead was a toad with its mouth open. The mouth of each dragon held a metal ball and when an earthquake occurred, a ball would fall out of the dragon’s mouth. It could detect an earthquake up to 400 miles away.

Chinese Inventions Moveable type Paper Paper money Printing Press Rockets Seismograph Silk Umbrella Wheelbarrow Abacus Blast furnace (cast iron) Compass Gunpowder Helicopter rotor Kite Matches Moldboard plow