 STS

 ANCIENT PERIOD (3,500 BC-100BC)

The rise of ancient civilization paved

the way for advances in science and
technology. These advances during
the Ancient period allowed civilizations
to flourish by finding better ways of
communication, transportation, self-
organization, and of living in general.
 CIVILIZATIONS During the Ancient Times

1. 1. Sumerian Civilization
2. 2. Babylonian Civilization
3. 3.Egyptian Civilization
4. 4. Greek Civilization
5. 5. Roman Civilization
6. 6. Chinese Civilization
The Sumerian civilization is the oldest
civilization known to mankind. The term
Sumer is today used to designate southern
Mesopotamia. In 3000 BC, a flourishing
urban civilization existed. The Sumerian
civilization was predominantly agricultural
and had community life.
--
 Administration:
 The Sumerians were the true builders of the
Mesopotamian civilization. This civilization
became matured around 3500 B.C. The Sumerians
built many cities. Nipur, Lagash, Ur and Kish were
the four major cities of the Sumerians. In every city
state king was the highest authority.
 The Chief place of political activities of a city state
was Ziggurat (Sumerian temple). The Sumerian
priests were known as Patteshi. They were the chief
architects of the Sumerian administration. The king
ruled the state by their advice.
 Art of writing:
 The Sumerians made their noblest
contribution in the field of writing. They
adopted a system of writing which was
popularly known as ‘Cuneiform’. An
English man named Henry Rowlison
who stayed in Iran first deciphered this
writing. The Sumerians used more than
350 signs.
Cuneiform writings
Cuneiform writings of the
“Sumerians were read from right
to left. Thousands of such tablets
containing Cuneiform writing are
found from Sumerian library.
.
Library:
 The Sumerians had big libraries. These
libraries were store house of knowledge.
From the ruins of Tello, 30,000 clay
tablets have been discovered. Those
tablets were kept one after another in
series. In many other places, many
tablets have been discovered. All these
evidence prove that those were the
ancient libraries of the Sumerians.
 Religious belief:
 The religious belief of the Sumerians was
superb. They built temples at the centre
of the city state for the worship of gods
and goddesses. The Sumerian temple
was known as Ziggurat. The meaning of
‘Ziggurat’ is “Hill of the Heaven”. These
temples were a sort of multi-storeyed
tower temples.
 The Sumerians were Polytheists. Among
the Ziggurats of the Sumerians, the
Ziggurat built at Nipur for their chief god
‘Enlil’ was the biggest. He was the deity
of the sacred city Nipur. He was also
worshipped as the earth god and air god.
Another Ziggurat was built at Ur for
‘Nannar’, the man god.
Architecture:

 The Sumerians left indelible foot prints

on the sands of time by erecting many
cities, palaces Ziggurats. They used burnt
bricks for the construction of different
structures.
 The Ziggurats were seven or eight
storeyed buildings and were narrower
around the top.
Art:
 The Sumerians contributed a lot in the field of
art. The craftsmen like potters, goldsmiths and
stone-cultures produced work of high excellence
several decorated clay pots discovered from Ur
bear ample testimony of their artistic skill.
 The seals with carving and pictures show their
talent as skilled artists. They also made
ornaments with beautiful designs. The ruins of
big metallic animals have been discovered from
many Sumerian cities. They also built several
stone images which reflect their artistic skill.
Science—Astrology:

 The Sumerians showed exceptional ability in

the field of science. They had deep knowledge
in the field of Mathematics and Astrology. The
priests stayed inside the chamber of Ziggurat
and kept eye on the movement of planets and
stars. By that, they were able to predict good
or bad time. Thus, they were quite thorough in
astrology.
Calendar:
 The Sumerians prepared calendar to determine the
months and year. They divided one year into 12 lunar
months. They determined a month on the basis of the
movement of moon. Each month was divided into 30
days. After some years the Sumerian kings added one
month more in a year and made it 13 months.

 Their calendar was defective because it could not adjust

5 days in a year, thus making it 365 days (360+5 extra).
That is why; they had to change the calendar time and
again. Later on the Hebrews and Arabians accepted the
Sumerian calendar after modification.
Water Clock:

 The Sumerians used water clock to measure

the time. They divided one hour into 60
minutes and each minute into 60 seconds.
The water fell down drop by drop from the
hole of a pot. The Sumerians got idea about
the time by looking at the marks given in the
pot. This was a unique invention of the
Sumerians.
Counting procedure:

 The Sumerians had invented a new counting

procedure. They used 60 as numberal unit and
through that managed counting. In weight, 60
‘shekels’ made a ‘mina’ or a ‘pound’. A circle was
divided into 360″ (60×6 = 360° or 6 times of 60).
 This was included in the arithmetic of the ancient
Surnerians. As stated earlier, one hour was
divided into 60 minutes and one minute was
fractioned into 60 seconds.
Wheel and Cart:

A great contribution of the Sumerians to the

history of mankind was ‘wheel’. This wheel
accelerated the progress of Sumerian
civilisation.
 The potter made pottey of various shapes and
sizes through this wheel. The wheeled carts
facilitated trade and commerce on land route.
This invention of wheel by the Sumerians
made them immortal in the annals of history.
Trade and Commerce:

 The Sumerians were very capable in the field

of trade and commerce. It is known that they
maintained trade and commercial relation
with Asian countries including India. They
also maintained commercial relation with
Egypt.
Babylonian civilization
 It was an important component of the
Mesopotamian civilisation.
 On the ravages of the Sumerian civilisation
grew up Babylonian civilisation.
 The Amorites were the founder of this
civilisation. The appearance of Hammurabi,
the great king of the Amorites, made this
civilisation progressive.
Hammurabi
 wasthe first law giver in the history of the
world. The writings, literature, religion, art,
architecture and science of the Babylonians
were unique in their own way.
Art of Writing and Education:

 Like the Sumerians, the people of Babylon

used Cuneiform writing. They used more than
350 signs in their writing.
 They used to write on soft clay tablets by pen
made of bone and bamboo. Then they baked
tablets on sun shine and kept one after
another. During the reign of Hammurabi, the
famous Emperor of Babylon, education spread
in the look and corner of that land.
Literature:

 Theliterature of Babylon was very rich. The

Babylonians wrote around 2000 books. They
composed books on religion, science,
mathematics and astrology. In the domain of
Babylonian literature, ‘Gilgamesh’ carved a
special position. This epic describes about
king Gilgamesh, the legendary hero of
Babylon.
 Code of Hammurabi:
 Hammurabi was the First Law Giver of the world. He
was the leader of the Amorites and a brave fighter.
There were different sets of laws in ancient Babylon
concerning religion, agriculture, administration and
business. Hammurabi codified all these laws in a
simple form which became famous as the ‘Code of
Hammurabi’.
 These laws were engraved on a diorite stone of 8 feet
high and that stone was erected in the temple of the
great Babylonian god Marduk. On the top of the stone
the picture of Hammurabi receiving laws from the Sun
god Samas was engraved.
 Religion:
 Like the Sumerians, the Babylonians were polytheists.
Their chief god was ‘Marduk’ who was regarded as the
creator of the world. ‘Istar’ was regarded as Mother
Goddess. They also worshipped ‘Samas’ as sun god and
‘Tamuj’ as the god of agriculture. The Babylonians
believed that the gods and goddess take birth, come
under sorrows, sufferings and happiness and die.
 They also marry like human beings, resort to war and
sue for peace. The priests could predict future by casting
a glance on the liver of a sacrificed animal. The priests
stayed at the top storey of a Ziggurat. They worshipped
god or goddess and predicted future.
Science:
 The Babylonians also excelled in the field of
science. The priests watched the sun, moon
planet and star very carefully and forecast the
future. Like the Sumerians, the Babylonians
also adopted lunar calendar. They divided one
year into 12 months and each month was
divided into 30 days.
 They also used sun dial and water clock to
know time. 
Art and Architecture:

 The Babylonian kings were famous builders.

They built big palaces. They kept the gigantic
images of bulls having the heads of man near
the entrance gate of the palace.
 The great Ziggurat built by Hammurabi in
honour of ‘Marduk’ and big granary to
preserve grains for future calamities testify
the architectural skills of the Babylonians.
Administration:
 The Babylonians were very famous in the field of
administration. Besides the code of Hammurabi,
laws were also written on clay tablets. The royal
orders written on 55 clay tablets have been
discovered from different places of Babylon.
Hammurabi had sent message to administrators
through these tablets to adopt compassion,
liberal attitude and honesty in the field of
administration. Undoubtedly, the Babylonian
administration was directed for the welfare of
the people.
Egyptian Civilization
 While much of the world was living in primitive
conditions, the ancient Egyptians were 
 1. inventing writing
 2. advancing the sciences of mathematics,
medicine and astronomy.
 They developed ways to measure time and
distances , and applied their knowledge to
monumental architecture.
Art of Writing:

 To express the thinking of their mind, the

Egyptians invented art of writing. Although
from the very beginning they were not
acquainted with the alphabets, still then they
were able to express their idea through
different pictures. So, their writing was
popularly known as ‘Hieroglyphy’ or ‘sacred
writing’ because those were written by the
priests.
Paper, pen, ink and inkpot:

 On the banks of Nile, a plant named ‘Papyrus’ was

plentily available. The leaves of Papyrus tree were joined
through gum and the long roll was prepared. By polish
such rolls were glazed. In a Papyrus roll of twenty to
forty feet length and five to ten inches breadth the
Egyptian wrote their idea. The modem name ‘Paper’,
perhaps, has been derived from the term ‘Papyrus’.
 They took juice of plants and prepared ‘ink’ by mixing
gum and water with it. In several cases they also
prepared ink by missing gum with black particles found
from kitchen house or lamps.
Literature:

 The ancient Egyptians had created immortal

literature. They composed literature concerning
astrology, metallurgy, weaving and cooking.
Besides, they also reflected legends, adventures,
thrilling experiences, religious thought etc. in
their literature. Among their prose writings, ‘The
tale of two brothers’, ‘The tale of Sinuhi’, ‘The
legend of the doomed prince’ and ‘The story of
the ship-wrecked Sailor’ were very famous.
Science: Calendar:
 The ancient Egyptians were very good astronomers of their
time. Looking at the cloudless clear blue sky, they could predict
about the solar and lunar eclipse, flood in the river Nile, time
of sowing seeds etc. They could also know about the movement
of Planets and Stars. They had prepared a ‘Calendar’.
 They divided a year into 360 days and 12 months, each month
consisting of 30 days. Each day was divided into 24 hours or
two parts and each part consisting of 12 hours. At the end of
every year, they added 5 days more only to be spent in feast
and merrymaking. Julius Caesor had adopted this Calendar
Pope Gregory XIII adopted this calendar with a little
modification. The Egyptian Calendar is the first recorded event
of human history.
Mathematics’ and ‘Geometry
 The ancient Egyptians exhibited their talent in
the field of ‘Mathematics’ and ‘Geometry’. They
were very efficient in addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. They had acquired
knowledge in triangle, quadrangle, square,
rectangle etc. for measuring the land.
 They utilised their mathematical and
geometrical knowledge in building the
Pyramids. 
Medical Science:

 The Egyptians acquired deep knowledge in medical

science. From their old library two books concerning
medical science have been discovered. Edwin Smith has
translated these books. From that translation it is
known that the Egyptians knew about different diseases
and also knew how to cure them.
 They had idea regarding surgery. They could also
preserve dead bodies by applying chemicals. The
physicians of Egypt also knew the use of castor oil. It
will not be wrong if the Egyptians are termed as the
‘Father of Medical science’.
Art and architecture: Pyramid:

 The Egyptians have immortalised their name in

the annals of history due to their art and
architecture. Pyramid is the classic example of it.
The tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh is known as
Pyramid. The people of Egypt believed that after
death, the soul returns back to the body. So they
preserved the dead body of the Pharaoh by
applying chemicals in it. This preserved body of
the Pharaoh was known a ‘Mummy’. It was
covered with cloth and kept inside a coffin.
Temple:

 Temples were another classic example of the

Egyptian architecture. The Pharaohs built
temples to please gods and goddesses. The
Karnak temple at Thebes is world famous.
This is the largest temple of Egypt. Its length
is around two kilometres. This temple rests on
12 pillars, each having 79 feet height.
Sculpture:

 Theancient Egyptians were skilled sculptors.

Among their Sculptures, Sphinx was very famous.
This gigantic stone statue is a remarkable
sculpture having the body of a lion with human
head. The Great Sphinx stands at the doorstep of
the biggest Pyramid at Gizeh. It represents the
head of Pharaoh Khafare of Amenhotep III. Its
grave facial appearance and a ray of laughter
make it unintelligible before the viewers.
Religion:

 Religionplayed a vital role in the life of the

Egyptians. From the beginning they believed
in Polytheism They worshipped around 2200
gods and goddesses. They attached divinity in
creatures and worshipped them. Their
crocodile god was famous as ‘Sibek’. The cat
god was called ‘Pashat’ and jackle god was
named as ‘Anubis’.
Philosophy:

 Theancient Egyptians had also attained

celebrity in the field of Philosophy. Ptahotep
was the greatest philosopher of that time. He
was the provincial ruler of Memphis.
 Postal Service:
 The people of ancient Egypt were aware about
the postal system. The study of Papyrus leads
historians to believe that the people of that land
were sending message.
 Historiography:
 The Egyptians were the father of
‘Historiography’. The historians accompanied the
Pharaoes to the battle field and recorded their
achievements. The ‘Rosetta stone’ is its classic
example.. The history of different royal dynasties
is known due to this historiography. 
Navigation, Trade and
Commerce:

 The Egyptians first used boat in case of trade and

commerce. Egypt became a centre of trade in the
entire Mediterranean region. In due course of time,
they established trade relation with Nubiya, Sudan
Janjibar, Persia, Crate and Phonesia. They exported
ivory, gold, the feather of Ostrich and slaves.
 They imported cattle, fish and wine from Asia;
Precious red stones from Persia and copper from
Senai. By utilising navy for the first time, the
Egyptians have enriched the human civilisation.
Craftsmanship:

 The Egyptians were also expert in craftsmanship.

They knew the art of melting together copper with
tin to make bronze. They made brick, cement and
plaster of Paris. They also manufactured glazed
pottery and coloured glass. They were also apt in
the carving of wood. From Papyrus plants they
made ropes, mats and sandals. The Egyptian
workmen developed the art of enamelling and
varnishing. Thus, their skilled craftsmanship was
widely recognised in the world.
System of Administration:

 The Pharaoes of Egypt were administrations

of superb calibre. They were very powerful.
They commanded respect from their subjects.
In many cases divinity was attached to the
Pharaoes. They discharged efficient
administration due to the help of ministers,
provincial administrators and royal officers.
This efficient administration was recognised
all over the world.
GREEK CIVILIZATION
 11 Greek Contributions to Western Civilization
1. Democracy
2. The Alphabet
3. The Library
4. The Olympics
5. Science and Mathematics
6. Architecture
7. Mythology
8. The Lighthouse
9. Standardized Medicine
10.Trial by Jury
11.The Theater
1.Democracy
 The ancient Greeks created the world’s first
democracy. Athens started out with a
monarchy, advanced to an oligarchy, and then
finally reached a democracy. The democratic
government consisted of 6,000 assembly
members, all of whom were adult male
citizens, and they voted on issues throughout
Athens.
2.alphabet
 The word "alphabet" actually originates
from the first two letters of the Greek
alphabet: alpha and beta. Many letters of
our modern alphabet originated in ancient
Greece, like the letters A, B, E, and O. The
Greek alphabet originally had a single form
for each letter, but eventually created upper
and lower case letters.
3. The Library
 Thefirst library in the world, the Library of
Alexandria, was actually built in Egypt.
However, at the time Egypt was under
Greek control after submitting to Alexander
the Great’s rule. The Macedonians spread
the Greek way of life to all of their
conquered lands, including Egypt.
4.The Olympics
 The Olympic Games lasted from the 8th
century BCE to the 4th century BCE before
dying out. They were so named because
they started in the city of Olympia in
ancient Greece. They were held every four
years in honor of the king god, Zeus, and
participants came from ancient Greek city-
states and their colonies.
5. Science and Mathematics
Along with being the birthplace of many great
mathematicians, Greece was also the mother country of
many famous scientists.
Archimedes
Archimedes is generally considered the greatest
mathematician of all time. He anticipated modern calculus,
geometrical theorems, and learned to calculate the area of
geometric shapes, including the circle and sphere.
Eratosthenes was a mathematician, geographer, and
astronomer and the first person to calculate the
circumference of the Earth. 
6. Architecture
The most famous example of Greek
architecture is the Parthenon, a
former temple located on the
Acropolis. Its most distinctive feature
are its many columns: seventeen on
the sides and eight columns at either
end, inside of which is a second row
of six columns.
7. Mythology
Some of the most famous myths
of ancient Greece are tales of
Perseus, Theseus, and of course,
Hercules. The Greeks often used
these myths to explain things that
science couldn't prove, but today
we mostly enjoy them for
entertainment purposes.
9. Standardized Medicine
 While medicine was practiced in Babylon, China,
India, and Egypt, the Greeks were the first to
create a standardized system of medicine,
including diagnosis, prognosis, and medical ethics.
 The manner in which the medical practice is
carried out today, in terms of diagnosis and
sometimes of treatment, is very similar to that of
the ancient Greeks. These ancient advancements in
medicine were largely instituted by Hippocrates,
who is often called the "father of medicine."
10. Trial by Jury

The citizens of ancient Athens were

the first to employ trial by jury. Jurors
were required to be male citizens of
Athens, and a mechanism known
as dikastaí ensured that no person
could select jurors for their own trial.
11. The Theater

 If you've ever gone to a concert, play, or

movie, you've benefited from one of the
ancient Greeks' most obvious contributions
to the modern world: the theater.
 The word "theater" is derived from the
Greek word "theatron," meaning the
seating section of outdoor arenas where
people watched plays.
Roman Civilization
 The Roman Empire was the period of time
after the Roman Republic and before the
Byzantine Empire from 29 B.C. to A.D. 476. It
was the highest point of Roman
civilization, greater than any prior empires
and towers over even the empires after it; it
triumphed over the world .
 Although arches existed thousands of years
before the time of ancient Rome, the
Romans revolutionized the structure by
using it to build colosseums, aqueducts,
bridges and other buildings.
 Roman engineers created wooden frames in
the shape of an arch, then created the
stonework around the frame.
Roman numerals
 originated in ancient Rome, but survived for
some uses after the end of the Roman
Empire. The numbers in the system are
represented by combinations of letters
from the Latin alphabet.
 Some practical examples can be seen at the
entrances to the Roman Colosseum, which
are labeled with Roman numerals
– XXIII (23) to LIIII (54). 
Early Newspaper
 While Romans cannot be credited with
creating a modern system of daily, paper
newspapers, they did have something
similar. They often inscribed news of
current affairs unto stones, papyri, or metal
slabs, which were placed in public spaces. 
 This publication was called Acta Diurna or
'daily acts' and originated as early as 131
B.C.
S
ewage and sanitary plumbing syste
ms
 Romans were very knowledgeable
when it came to civil engineering.
But their talent wasn't limited to
building large structures like the
Colesseum or roadways. While it may
seem less visually impressive, their
engineering excellence is highlighted
by their 
sewage and sanitary plumbing syst
ems
Arches
While Romans weren’t the ones
who actually invented the arch,
they did develop the
architectural arch to allow them
to build bridges, large buildings,
and better aqueducts. 
hypocaust system 
 The hypocaust system was a heating
mechanism somewhat similar to modern-day
central heating, or radiant floor heating. These
systems distributed heat from an underground
fire throughout a space beneath the floor
raised by a series of concrete pillars. In
addition, Romans also built flues into the walls,
ensuring the heat had a path to warm higher
floors, and could eventually escape safely
through the roof. 
Aqueducts

 Romans built aqueducts to bring fresh

water in from neighboring sources into
their growing cities and towns. While earlier
civilizations in Egypt and India also used
aqueducts, the Romans greatly improved
on the structure. The whole process
needed no external energy, as it was
achieved by the use of gravity alone. 
 The First Surgical Tools

 Romans weren’t just about spears and

daggers, they also developed 
precision medical instruments that
influenced many modern-day surgical
tools. 
Concrete to Strengthen Roman Buildings

 Concrete Romans were the first ones to use

this material in a widespread manner. 
 Using a mixture of volcanic ash, lime, and
seawater, they developed a mix that they used
to add structural integrity to their buildings.
 Many of their buildings still stand today. In fact,
some types of Roman concrete were able to be
set underwater.
 Roads That Can Withstand Time
 Developing the Julian Calendar
 The Roman republican calendar contained 355
days. It was basically a lunar calendar to make up
for the discrepancy between the calendar and the
solar year, an intercalary month consisting of 27
or 28 days was added once every two years.
The Intercalation was the duty of the Pontifices,
and over time, due to negligence and corruption,
the intercalations became irregular. As a result, by
the 40s B.C., the Roman civic calendar had
become out of sync with the seasons and the holy
festivals, it was about three months ahead of
the solar calendar. 
Chinese Civilization
 One of the remarkable inventions of China
is Printing. Bi Sheng invented this for the first
time in 1040 AD which was made of baked
clay. In around 13th century, Wang Zhen
made the movable type made of wood and
then in the 14th century Hua Sui invented the
metal movable type
Paper Making
 The invention of paper greatly affects human
history. Paper already existed in China since 105
A.C, however, a eunuch named Cai Lun (ca. 50
AD – 121) made significant innovation and helped
drive its widespread adoption. His advanced
paper-making technology then spread to central
Asia and the world through the Silk Road
Movable Type Printing
 2. Movable Type Printing 960-1279 AD
Woodblock printing was already a widely used
technique in the Tang Dynasty. However, this kind
of printing tech was expensive and time-
consuming. Until the Song Dynasty (960-1279), a
man named Bi Sheng (990–1051) invented
movable type printing, making it quicker and
easier.
Gunpowder
 Gunpowder was invented by Chinese Taoist
alchemists about 1000 A.D. when they tried to find
a potion to gain human immortality by mixing
elemental sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. It is
generally believed that gunpowder spread to
Europe during the Mongol expansion of 1200-
1300 A.D..
Compass
 Compass 1100 A.D. A compass is a navigational
instrument that shows directions. The compass was
invented by Chinese between the 2nd century BC
and 1st century AD. It was first used in Feng Shui,
the layout of buildings.
Alcohol
 The inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula were
widely believed to be the first brewers. However,
in 2013, a 9000-year-old pottery found in Henan
province revealed the presence of alcohol, 1000
years before Arabian. Alcohol is known as Jiu in
Chinese and is often used as a spiritual offerings to
Heaven and the Earth or ancestors in ancient
China.
Mechanical Clock
Mechanical Clock 725 A.D. The
world’s first mechanical clock -
Water-driven Spherical Birds –
was invented by Yi Xing, a
Buddhist monk in 725 A.D..
Tea Production
 According to old Chinese legend, tea was
first discovered by Shennong, Chinese
Father of Agriculture, around 2,737 BC. In
the Tang Dynasty (618 － 907) tea became a
popular drink enjoyed by all social classes.
Silk
 Silk 6,000 years ago Silk, one of the oldest fibers,
originated in China as early as 6,000 years ago.
The earliest evidence of silk was discovered at
Yangshao culture site in Xiaxian County, Shanxi
Province, China where a silk cocoon was found
cut in half, dating back to between 4000 and 3000
BC.
Umbrella
 The inventions of umbrella can be traced back as
early as 3500 years ago in China. Legend has it,
Lu Ban, a Chinese carpenter and inventor created
the first umbrella. Inspired by children using lotus
leaves as rain shelter, he created umbrella by
making a flexible framework covered by a cloth.
Acupuncture
 Acupuncture 2300 years ago The oldest Chinese
medicine book “Neijing”, also known as “The
Classic of Internal Medicine of the Yellow
Emperor”, shows that acupuncture was widely
used as a therapy in China much before the time it
was written. Besides, various kinds of acupuncture
needles were discovered in the tomb of Prince Liu
Sheng.
Iron Smelting
 Archaeological evidence revealed that iron
smelting technology was developed in China as
early as 5th century BC in the Zhou Dynasty (1050
BC － 256 BC). During The Spring & Autumn and
Warring States periods (776-221 BC) China went
into a flourishing period for iron smelting. In the
Han Dynasty (202 BC － 220 AD) central
government monopolized the iron smelting, seeing
remarkable development.
Porcelain
 Porcelain is a great invention of ancient China. The
earliest porcelain emerged in Shang Dynasty (1600–
1046 BCE) and matured during the Tang Dynasty
(618- 906). During the Song Dynasty (960–1279),
porcelain production technology reached an
unprecedented height due to its focus on shape and the
tactile experiences of the glaze. Chinese porcelain was
highly prized in the world and many artworks had
been introduced to the West through the Silk Road.
Earthquake Detector
 132 A D According to court records of the later
Han Dynasty, a seismograph was created by the
brilliant inventor Zhang Heng (78-140 AD) in 132
AD. Its function is to determine the direction of an
earthquake. In 138 AD, this instrument indicated
an earthquake occurring in Longxi a thousand
kilometers away. It was the first time that mankind
to detect an earthquake. Modern seismographs
only began development in 1848 in Europe.
Rocket
 China is hometown of rockets, ancient Chinese
inventors created rockets by applying counter-
force produced by ignited gunpowder. According
to history, in 228 A.D. the Wei State already used
torches attached to arrows to guard Chencang
against the invading troops of the Shu State.
Bronze
 Bronze 1700 B.C. The skill of produce bronze was
mastered by ancient Chinese by 1700 B.C. The
Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 B.C.) and Zhou
dynasties (1046-256 BC) brought China into the
Bronze Age and the making of bronze wares
reached its peak in this period. Bronze was mainly
used to make weapons, bronze tools and ritual
vessels at that time.
Kite
 The kite was developed around 3,000 years ago by
ancient Chinese. The earliest kites were made of
wood, called Muyuan (wooden kite). In early
times kites were mainly used for military purposes
such as sending a message, measuring distances,
testing the wind and signaling.
Seed Drill
The Seed Drill 3500 years ago The
seed drill is a device that plants the
seed into soil at a uniform depth and
covers it. If without this device
farmers had to plant the seeds by
hand, resulting in waste and uneven
growth.
Row Crop Farming
 Row Crop Farming 6 Century BC In other parts of
the world, farmers still scattered seed onto the
fields randomly. While ancient Chinese started
planting crops in rows from the 6th century BC.
They planted individual seeds in rows, thus
reducing seed loss and making crops grow faster
and stronger.
Toothbrush
 Toothbrush1498 in China The bristle toothbrush
was invented in 1498 by Chinese who made
toothbrushes with coarse horse hairs attached to
bone or bamboo handles. It was later brought to
the new world by Europeans.
Paper Money
 Paper Money 9th century A.D. Paper money were
first developed by the ancient Chinese, who started
using folding money at the end of the 8th or
beginning of the 9th century AD. Paper bills were
originally used as privately issued bills of credit or
exchange notes.