China is one of the world's greatest civilizations. The first emperor of China was Qin Shi Huang. He organized China into a great civilization. He organized the country so well that the new ideas came to mind. The Chinese created some of the most important things we use today. They invented some wonderful things like the waterwheel, the decimal system, music theory, medicine, the sun dial, astronomy, the compass, and even ice cream. But they also invented gun powder which led to many deaths. The ancient Chinese had great inventions in weapons, agriculture, and art.
The ancient Chinese invented many weapons that are still used today. They were the first to invent the crossbow. They also invented gun powder. This discovery led to many other inventions. They used the gun powder to make hand grenades, rockets, and flame throwers. The materials used to make these things were bamboo and gun powder. They also built rifles and cannons. One of the most popular things today that we make with gun powder is fireworks. Fireworks are mostly used for holidays such as Fourth of July, Chinese New Years, and our New Years. They also use them for celebrations at places like the State Fair and Disneyland. The ancient Chinese also invented the match with gun powder. The Chinese invented the Great Wall of China for defense against the Huns. The Great Wall of China was ordered to be built by Emperor Qin. It is 3700 miles long and took hundreds of years to build. This amazing defense system is still standing today and is so big it can be seen from space.
Some of the first great inventions of ancient China were the hoe and shovel. Stone hoes and shovels were found in China that are from 7000 B.C. That was 9000 years ago! Some other things that Chinese invented for agriculture are the wheelbarrows and animal harnesses. The first crop that the Chinese grew was rice, starting in 5000 B.C. The ancient Chinese also grew millet, sorghum, wheat, soy beans, cucumbers, oranges, lemons, peaches, ginger and apricots. The ancient Chinese loved tea. By 3000 B.C. all the Chinese drank tea. Meat and fruit were rarely eaten by the ancient Chinese. The ancient Chinese raised Silk Worms so they could find them easier. Silk worms were very important in ancient China. They used the cocoons to make silk. The Chinese used the silk to make fabric so that they could trade for other items. Silk was special to the Chinese because no one else had silk in that time period.
Old Chinese writing was found on turtle shells. It was carbon dated to1500 B.C. Emperor Qin made everyone learn the same writing. They stopped writing on turtle shells and started to use paper and ink after they invented them . This kind of writing is called Calligraphy. It was invented by the Chinese and done with brushes and ink on rice paper. The Chinese also used paper to invent money, folding umbrellas, kites, playing cards and wall paper. The ancient Chinese even invented two types of printing—wood block and movable type. Around 7000 B.C., they made the pottery wheel. The ancient Chinese made lots of pottery. They made tea cups so they could drink their tea. As they got better, they invented porcelain china. They also invented lacquer paint.
The ancient Chinese were creative. Weapons, agriculture, and art were important in Chinese history. Because they were important, the ancient Chinese figured out how to improve them. For example, the invention of gun powder lead to guns, grenades, and greater weapons. The Great Wall of China was a great defense system and went well with the crossbow. When they invented the shovel, wheel barrow, and hoe, it improved their farming techniques. When they raised silk worms, they learned how to make silk. In art they invented the pottery wheel, paper and ink. Their pottery was really good. Paper and Ink lead to many inventions including printing. Consider how many things the Chinese made. Look at how much the ancient Chinese have created.
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