Contributions to Society

The earliest inventions were the abacus, shadow clock, kites and the Kongming Lantern. As an astronomically advanced civilization the Ancient Chinese first recorded observations of comets, solar eclipses, and supernovae. The 4 greatest inventions of the Ancient Chinese were printing, paper making, gunpowder and the compass. Ancient Chinese made great advances in metallurgy, For example, 2300 years ago no one in Europe or the Middle East could melt one ounce of iron, meanwhile, the Chinese were casting multi-ton iron objects. It was not until the 1200s that the British were able to replicate this feat. More inventions of the Ancient Chinese include the Compass (invented in China used to apply Feng Shui to buildings) (Ba BooHua)) Paper (the first paper made by pounding linen) and Gunpowder (made by shamans trying to find a stone of immortality). The Chinese also learned how to drill for natural gas. They invented row crop farming, silk, porcelain, rudders, wheelbarrows, and umbrellas.They traded along the silk road as well as traded with Europe, India, Persia, and within itself.