Ancient China Essay -- essays research papers

One of the most important contrivances of all time was the invention of gunpowder. Imagine their enemys surprise when the Chinese starting demonstrated their newest invention in the eighth century AD. Chinese scientists discovered that an explosive mixture could be produced by combining sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate). The military applications were clear. New weapons were rapidly developed, including rockets and others that were launched from a bamboo tube (Franklin Institute). The Chinese atomic number 18 known for their inventions that still are apply in the modern day. Those inventions are paper, gunpowder, books, and much to a greater extent.     Gunpowder was discovered in the tenth century by Chinese medicine men that were tone for the secret to immortality. They thought that gunpowder could be practiced as a medicine of some sort. The invention of gunpowder gave the Chinese a translucent advantage over their enemies, changing th e nature of war (Ken Hsu, Willy Hsu, Micheal Lu).      At first gunpowder was used to blast rocks apart and to make fireworks, later to be used as warfare. To medieval Chinese it was simply an aid to esthetical pleasure. By the 10th century, gunpowder began to be used for military purposes in mainland China in the form of rockets and explosive bombs fired from catapults. The first quality to cannon appears in 1126 when oil bamboo tubes were used to launch missiles at the enemy. in the end bamboo tubes were replaced by metal tubes, and the oldest cannon in China dates from 1290. From China, the military use of gunpowder appears to have spread to Japan and Europe. It was used by the Mongols against the Hungarians in 1241 and was mentioned by Roger Bacon in 1248. By the mid 14th century, early cannons are mentioned extensively both in Europe and in China. (Jack Kelly).In China as in Europe, the use of gunpowder to produce firearms and cannons was delayed by diff iculties in creating metal tubes that would contain an explosion. This problem may have lead to the false myth that the Chinese used their invention only for the retrace of fireworks. In fact, gunpowder powered cannons and rockets were extensively used in the Mongol conquests of the 13th century and were a feature of East Asian warfare afterwards. The short squat and thick city walls of Beijing for example, were specifically designe... ...emoved by hand. The fibers are beaten in a blender or by hand to a creamy pulp. At this stage, dyes can be added to take a shit colored papers. The pulp is poured into a large tub and the fibers are suspend in the water. The artisan dips a framed screen into the water and with spacious skill, lifts it to the surface catching the fibers onto the screen. The screens can be left in the sunbathe to dry, or be transferred to boards, pressed, smoothed and then dried. It wasnt until the invention of paper that randomness could be recorded and passe d on cheaply and in greater sum of money (Paper Trading International).     Over the many years of experimenting it has paid off for the Chinese. I researched two great masterpieces from it. But there were many more inventions, equal the compass, medicine, printing, embroidery and silk. When trying to find the secret to immortality they made gunpowder with a bang When getting bored trying to make something to send messages on they made the great paper. Both of these inventions are still used this very(prenominal) day, maybe it will be used for a lot more in years to come.