Download Chinese Inventions: Han Dynasty Learn about ancient Chinese

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World History – Mrs. Schenck
Chinese Inventions: Han Dynasty
Focus Question: What are the consequences of technology?
Learn about ancient Chinese inventions using the website below. Remember that
many answers do not come from the website. Determining “consequences” requires
you to think, create, and predict – just like the ancient Chinese – imagine that!
http://history.howstuffworks.com/asian-history/10-ancient-chinese-inventions.htm
Invention
History
Purpose
Consequences
Gunpowder
Accidently discovered by
alchemists (looking for
immortality)
Combo of saltpeter,
charcoal, sulfur)
Signal flares, fireworks,
military grenades
Changed the face of war
forever!
Compass
Originally pointed true
South
4th century
Made from lodestone
(magnetic iron ore)
Pointed to inner
harmony/destiny for
Chinese fortune tellers!
Not until later is it used
for travel
Safe travel, accurate
maps, leads to advances
like the GPS today
Paper
First language appeared
around 5000 years ago
Cai Lun invented
prototype for modern
paper in AD 105 from a
mixture of wood fibers
and water pressed into a
woven cloth
Record keeping, history
writing, stories, etc.
Maps and world travel!,
knowledge of the past!,
the ability to pass on
knowledge to other
people and places –
expand and grow! Etc.!
Pasta
Looks like the Chinese
created pasted about
4000 years ago (before
the Italians or Arabs)
Made from millet grain
still used in China today
Delicious food!
Imagine all the cultures
today that use noodle
today in cooking!
Good sources of
carbohydrates that last a
long time
Invention
History
Purpose
Consequences
Wheelbarrow
Jugo Liang invented in
Han Dynasty
Originally used as
Chinese military secret as
mobile barricades and
for transportation
Transport things more
easily – consequences for
farming, et.
Seismograph
Chang Hen created in
early 2nd century
Tremors would cause a
ball to fall from a
dragon’s mouth in to a
frogs below to show the
direction of the epicenter
Measure the intensity of
an earthquake
Modern seismograph to
help better track and
maybe someday predict
earthquakes
Alcohol
Early 3rd century BC
Chinese had learned
fermentation and
distillation techniques
Refine food and drink
and allow it to keep
longer
Addiction and abuse
throughout history – see
Health class!
Kites
4th century BC Gongshu
Ban and Mo Di invented
Amusement, fish without
a boat, military drones
Eventually leads to the
hang glider and helps us
understand aeronautics
that lead to flight
Emperors forced
criminals to ride in them
for their amusement!
Recreational today – but
helped our
understanding of
aeronautics that lead to
flight
Clothing, status symbol
Lead to the Silk Road –
trade routes that linked
the East to the West,
demand helped bring
China to the outside
world and peace with
other nations
Hang Gliders
Used kite technology to
develop ones large
enough to hold a human
Silk
4,700 years old – secrete
closely guarded by the
Chinese until monks
from Europe stole
silkworm eggs and took
them back to the West
Invention:_________________________________________
1. Tell when and where it was invented:
2. How was it made:
3. What was it used for:
4. How did it effect life in ancient China:
5. How might other civilizations have used this invention:
6. Tell what other inventions or variations of this invention are being used in today's society:
7. How would you improve on the invention:
8. Predict whether this invention will be in existence in 20 years from now--and explain why.
9. Describe how this invention will look or perform in 100 years from now, since we will have
different inventions, technology and needs then: