Chinese thoughts and achievements Flashcards
block printing
early form of printing invented in China in which a text was carved into a block of wood. The block was then covered in ink and pressed on a page.
Buddhism
religion that developed out of teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
compass
a device with a magnetic piece of metal that points north, used for navigation
Confucianism
a belief system based on the ideas of the Chinese thinker, Confucius
Daoism
A philosophy of following the Dao, that is the natural way of the universe
Why was the invention of the compass important to sailors?
It allowed them to sail in open seas and travel to distant lands.
What happened as a result of improvements in paper and printing?
The inventions made writing and publishing cheaper and easier. In turn, more people learned to read.
What Chinese inventions were used in building projects?
water pumps and wheelbarrows
What were the “three perfections” of Chinese culture?
painting, poetry, and calligraphy
Shipbuilding in China
○ Most advanced shipbuilding technologies in the world.
Built large ships called Junks.
Junks could hold as many as 500 people, had mulitple decks, and masts.
Built watertight compartments, so if leaks occurred they could seal off one section to prevent the ship from sinking
Impact of paper and printing on the world
§ Printing lowered the cost of books during the Song dynasty. Resulting in a rise in the number of schools and the ability to read and write. Normal people could become scholar officials.
§ Europeans may have gotten the idea to print books from China. More people in Europe could learn to read and get an education
What were the great inventions from China?
Shipbuilding, Compass, Paper and Printing, gunpowder, irrigation
Paper and printing
Chinese invented ○ Invented paper. Before paper, they wrote on silk or bamboo
Invented block printing to make books.
What did the Chinese use gunpowder for?
used gunpowder in fireworks first. By song, the era used gunpowder to make bombs, rockets, and other weapons for warfare
How did gunpowder impact the rest of the world?
Gunpowder spread west to Muslims areas and Europe, Gunpowder was the Turks secret weapon in their conquest to use in warfare what did the Chinese use gunpowder for
