Chinese Discoveries and Inventions

Medieval Chinese Exploration and Travel

Tuesday, January 11

Intro to the Week

For the past week or so, you learned about economic changes in China during the Song dynasty.

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This week, you will explore discoveries and inventions made by the Chinese between about 200 and 1400 C.E. Many of these advances came during the Tang and Song dynasties.

Over the centuries, Chinese scholars and scientists studied engineering, mathematics, science, and medicine, among other subjects.

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Their studies led to impressive scientific and technological progress that was often far ahead of European advances.

Improving Sea Travel

The Chinese developed the first compass as early as the third century B.C.E. The first Chinese compasses were pieces of a magnetic mineral called lodestone. The Earth itself is like a giant magnet with north and south poles. Because lodestone is magnetic, it is influenced by Earth's magnetic poles. If you put a piece of lodestone on wood and float it in a bowl of water, the lodestone will turn until it points in a north-south direction.

The Chinese eventually replaced the lodestone with a steel needle. They had learned that rubbing a needle with lodestone made the needle magnetic. A needle used as a compass gave a more accurate reading than a piece of lodestone.

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​By the Song dynasty, the Chinese were using magnetic compasses for navigation at sea. Compasses made long sea voyages possible because sailors could figure out directions even without a landmark or a point in the sky to steer by. The compass remains an important navigational tool today.

Open Ended

In 2-3 complete sentences, explain why the Chinese invention of the compass was a game-changer, both then and now:

Improving Travel on Rivers, Lakes, Canals and Bridges

Paddlewheel Boats

Within China, people often traveled by boat on rivers, canals, or across lakes.

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An invention called the paddlewheel boat speeded up this type of travel.

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Have you ever paddled a canoe or other small boat? As you push your paddle through the water, the boat moves forward. In the fifth century, the Chinese adapted this idea by arranging a series of paddles in a wheel. As the paddlewheel turned, the paddles moved continuously through the water, causing the boat to move forward. Paddlewheel boats allowed the Chinese to travel much faster on water. We still use this type of boat for pleasure trips today.

Multiple Select

Paddlewheel boats were faster and easier to maneuver than rowboats. This would make Paddlewheel boats perfect for which activities? Check all that apply

• warships

• shipping goods

• getting across sandbars

Problem: How Do You Paddle a Boat up Rapids & Falls?

Another innovation, the canal lock, was invented in the 10th century, during the Song dynasty. As you've learned, the Chinese used canals extensively. As the surrounding land sloped up, parts of canals were at different levels. Before canal locks were invented, the Chinese had to drag their boats up stone ramps to reach water at a higher level. Sometimes the boats would be seriously damaged.

The Solution

Canal locks solved this problem. When a boat entered the lock, a gate was lowered to hold in water. The water was then allowed to rise until it reached the level of the water up ahead. Then the boat floated on. To go "downhill." water was let out of the lock until it fell to the level of the water down below.

The invention of locks made canal travel much easier. Locks could raise boats as much as 100 feet above sea level. They are used today on rivers and canals around the world, including the famous Panama Canal.

Multiple Choice

What major problem do canal locks solve?

• making canal travel safe from attackers

• allowing boat travel when a canal has different levels

• ensuring goods on the boat arrive undamaged

Segmental Arch Bridge

The Chinese also found ways to improve bridges. For example, in 610 C.E., a Chinese engineer invented a new type of arched bridge. In Europe, Roman-designed bridges rested on arches that were half circles. The new Chinese bridge used arches that were a smaller part, or segment, of a circle. This made the bridges wider and flatter than the Romans' bridges.

Called a segmental arch bridge, the new bridge took less material to build, and it was stronger as well. The segmental arch bridge is one of China's most prized technological achievements.

Today, bridges with this design stretch over expressways around the world.

Multiple Select

Check all of the reasons a segmental arch bridge was an improvement over previous bridges:

• wider and flatter

• stronger

• took less material to build

• could be taken apart and moved more easily

Open Ended

Of the four Chinese inventions that improved exploration and travel (magnetic compass, paddlewheel boat, canal lock, and segmental arch bridge), which invention was the most impactful? Explain your opinion in 2-3 complete sentences: