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
Rockets were invented in China between the 1000-1100’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.
Rocket
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
Helicopter Rotor
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.
Umbrella
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 was one of the most valuable
items produced by Ancient China. Silk
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.
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.
Seismograph
Chinese Inventions
Abacus
Moveable type
Blast furnace (cast iron)
Paper
Compass
Paper money
Gunpowder
Printing Press
Helicopter rotor
Rockets
Kite
Seismograph
Matches
Silk
Moldboard plow
Umbrella
Wheelbarrow