Teacher ShelleHow China’s Inventions Changed the World
 It was during the Song dynasty that drinking tea was at the height of its popularity. People made very beautiful porcelain bowls, which they drunk out of. China, as we often call it, was produced especially for the royal family and for newly opened restaurants where rich people ate. The invention of gunpowder changed the way wars were conducted. It led to the manufacturing of guns and even rockets. Without gunpowder, later inventions, like the car engine would not have been possible. Historians think that the Mongols brought gunpowder to Europe. Printing was originally developed by Buddhist scholars. They copied texts that they gave to those who were preparing for examinations. The government also printed manuals for farm work and interesting articles about medicine. Because the Chinese alphabet is so complicated movable type printing was created. In order for economy to develop the Chinese needed a good transportation system. During the Song Dynasty canals were built to connect the main rivers. The invention of the compass allowed Chinese navigators to sail on open seas. They began to trade with countries in Southeast Asia, like Taiwan and the Philippines. Later on the Chinese expanded their trading to India and the eastern part of Africa. The Chinese also invented sails that could be moved, in contrast to the early fixed sails that the European navigators had at the beginning of the Age of Exploration. All in all the Song dynasty was a remarkable period in Chinese history with many inventions that make our world today a better place to live. source: www.english-online.at |