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Maya Segal

Ms. Diane Nicoll

7th Grade History

October 27, 2017

Medieval Chinese Discoveries

Trace historical influence of such discoveries as tea, the manufacture of paper, woodblock

painting, the compass, and gunpowder.

Woodblock printing and paper were very important inventions in medieval China. Paper

had a vast impact because it allowed the medieval Chinese to use their materials more wisely and

gave them a better resource. Before paper was invented, the Chinese used bamboo, bone, and

silk to write on. When paper was invented the Chinese did not have to use expensive material,

such as silk, to write on. Not only did paper allowed them to write and document on

non-expensive material, it also allowed them to write easily without worrying about cracking

what they were writing on. “Among the most globally significant innovations of the Tang

(618–906) and Song (960–1279) dynasties were the inventions of woodblock printing and

movable type, enabling widespread publishing of a variety of texts, and the dissemination of

knowledge and literacy” (The Invention of Woodblock Printing in the Tang (618–906) and Song

(960–1279) Dynasties). As you can see, woodblock printing improved the ability of the Chinese

to print money, laws, books, and other important materials. These inventions allowed for

considerable improvements in the governing abilities of the empire.

Gunpowder and the compass were both important inventions the Chinese used to

improve their military. The compass was a “ladle-like magnet on a plate with the handle of the
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ladle pointing to the south. In the 11th century, tiny needles made of magnetized steel were

invented. One end of the needle points north while the other points south” (“Four Great

Inventions Ancient China”). The compass was very important to the Chinese military because

it helped the Chinese navigate when at sea in easier ways. This allowed them to travel quicker

and conquer more land. Gunpowder was equally useful to the military as the compass. “In

Chinese, gunpowder is called huo yao, meaning flaming medicine” (“Four Great Inventions

Ancient China”). Gunpowder was made of sulphur, saltpeter, and charcoal. Gunpowder was

used to fire bullets and fire out of cannons. It was crucial because it helped advance the

medieval China military. It allowed the Chinese to conquer bigger areas because it was a tool

everyone was afraid of. Without the compass and gunpowder, military in medieval China

would never have advanced as much as it did.

Tea was a very popular invention in medieval China. Tea was farmed from leaves. The

leaves were dried, then boiled in a pot of hot water. This created the invention of tea. Tea wasn’t

only used as a drink but was also for trade. The medieval Chinese would trade tea, bringing in a

source of income. This was helpful because it helped the Medieval Chinese world flourish. Tea

was also helpful because it was also used as a stress reliever. “The practice of tea culture can

bring the spirit and wisdom of human beings to a higher orbit” (Annie Wu“Chinese Tea”). This

was so important because stress was not good and could impact medieval China in many bad

ways. Tea was very important to medieval China.

Tea, the manufacture of paper, woodblock painting, the compass, and gunpowder were all

important creations in medieval China. Wood-block printing and paper took time to create but

made the Medieval Chinese world a lot more convenient. Both the gunpowder and the compass
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advanced Medieval China’s navigation and military system. Tea is important in China for self

relieving purposes. All these inventions were very important on the impact on medieval China.

Without these inventions, China’s military, navigation, forms of writing, and relieving systems

would be much different, and our world today could be much more different.
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Works Cited

“Four Inventions of Ancient China.” ​Travel China Guide​, 1998, www.travelchinaguide.com

“The Invention of Woodblock Printing in Tang (618-906) and Song (960-1279) Dynasties.”

Asian | Education, ​education.asianart.org.

Wu, Annie. “Chinese Tea.” ​China Highlights, ​10 Oct. 2016, www.chinahilghlights.com

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-tea/