Gunpowder

Gunpowder was invented during the Tang Dynasty in the 800s.

Originally used to make fireworks and signals.
The Chinese typically did not use it as a weapon.
Eventually, the Chinese also used gunpowder to make explosives, firearms, small
bombs, rockets and canons.
Technology spread West (to Western Asia and Europe) within 300 years.

Porcelain
Porcelain is a bone hard, white ceramic (type of clay) made out of s special clay and a
mineral found only in China.
It is shaped into bowels, vases, cups, and other items.
Porcelain is often painted with beautiful designs.
Porcelain was invented in the 700s.
The Tang dynasty perfected the technique of making porcelain.
But the Song dynasty turned it into an art form. People from all over the world wanted
(and still want) porcelain made during the Song dynasty.
It was a very valuable export (trade good) for the Chinese.
The secret to making porcelain remained a Chinese secret for hundreds of years.

Woodblock Printing
The Tang Dynasty invented woodblock printing.
Woodblock printing is a form of printing where an entire page is carved into a block of
wood, then dipped in ink, and pressed onto a piece of paper to create a printed page.
Worlds first known book was printed in China in 868.

Moveable Type
Invented during the Song Dynasty in 1040.
Moveable type improved on woodblock printing by having a set of moveable letters
that can be moved, rearranged, and reused to create new lines of text and different
pages.
This allowed the Chinese to quickly print books, letters, etc.
Moveable type later spread to Europe.

Compass

Invented during the Tang dynasty.

The compass uses the earths magnetic field to show direction.
Chinese used a floating needle that always points to the North.
Made it possible to find the right direction more accurately than ever before.
Was very useful to sailors.
Helped China become a sea power.
Technology quickly spread West and allowed people all over the world to travel larger
distances than ever before.

Paper Money

Created during the Song Dynasty in 1020.

First group in the world to use paper money.
Previously the Chinese used metal coins.
Paper money was easier to carry than heavy coins.
Helped to grow the Chinese economy as trade grew.

Agriculture
Chinese civilization has always been based on agriculture (growing food)!
In the North, they grew wheat, barley, and other grains.
In the South, they grew rice.
During the Song dynasty there were many advancements that helped them grow more
food.
o New Irrigation techniques

Dug underground wells
Created dragon backbone pump which allowed one person to move water
from one place to another very quickly and easily.
o They turned land that was once wild into farmland.
o They created a new type of rice that grew quickly.
They could now make 3 times as much rice as before.
o They learned how to grow cotton to make their own cloth
All of these improvements to agriculture had a great impact on China!
o The Chinese now had a lot of food for everyone!
o The population grew from 60 million people to 100 million people.
o China became the largest country in the world.

Dragons Backbone Pump