Chinese Inventions

PAPER
Long ago, the Chinese came up with some
important inventions.

Paper was one of them.

Where do you think people used to

write before the invention of paper?
 Life before paper

Clay, papyrus, wood, parchment

(prepared animal skins), slate and
on cave walls.
 How do you think paper was invented?
It is said that an officer in the Han Empire (206 BC – 220 AD) named Cai Lun
invented paper in the year 105 AD.

Legend says that one day he saw a wasp knitting its nest and had an idea to make a
new material.

This material was composed of rags and the fibers of trees and plants.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COxB_GvdzWI
1) What animal did the official observe to invent paper?

2) Why is paper considered a great invention?

3) Which materials were used to make paper?

4) What was the first tree used to make paper?

 SILK

According to a Chinese tale, silk was

invented by Empress Hsi Ling Shi.

One day the empress was having tea

under a tree.

Suddenly, a silk cocoon fell into her

cup of tea.
 caterpillar

The hot tea had loosened the long

strand of silk.

She then unravelled the silk thread

until she saw a small larva.
moth

Yes!!! A larva! A caterpillar! A moth

caterpillar called silkworm.
The empress was mesmerized with the high
quality and strength of that thread.

So, she had the idea of weaving the thread of

the silkworm cocoon.
For a long time, only the Emperor of
China and those very close to him were
allowed to use silk.

The manufacturing of silk was also kept

secret for many years.
 Watch the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-w5rVTBs4E
 Other inventions

Noodles

gunpowder ancient Compass

Which later
became the
spaghetti
after Marco
Polo took it to
Italy.
cannon and other modern Compass
weapons