Ancient+China

= __China's Enduring Impacts__ = Have you ever wondered why so many objects today say, “Made in China?” or why there is so much new technology? It started in the 1500’s BC and the ideas spread to present day. Many of the enduring impacts of China helped lead to the making of what the world is today. Most things you use today were manufactured in China.

There are many enduring impacts of China. We will explain those listed below:
 * [|Oracle Bone]
 * [|Sundial]
 * [|Seismograph]
 * [|Acupuncture]
 * [|Terra-Cotta Army]
 * [|Confucianism]
 * [|Paper]
 * [|Woodblock Printing]
 * [|Gunpowder]
 * [|Movable type]
 * [|Magnetic Compass]
 * [|Paper Money]

**Oracle Bone** The people of China used the oracle bones by looking at the cracks on the bones and telling the future. These bones are enduring because it helped astronomy and numerology come to life. It was a part of Chinese culture.

**Sundial** The sundial is a device that uses the position of the shadow to tell the time of day. The sundial was important because it taught people to be able to read time on clocks and now today we have the digital and analog clocks.

**Seismograph** The seismograph is a device that measures the strength of an earthquake. It is important because now we can it helps us compare earthquakes and estimate the damage they will cause. Even though it is more advanced now, people still use the ideas of the of the ancient seismograph.

**Acupuncture** Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain. People still use this process today to relieve pain. Many Han inventions in medicine and science are still important today.

**Terra-Cotta Army**
 * The Terra-Cotta Army soldiers are the guardians of Shi Huangdi's tomb. Each soldier is life size and each has different features and weapons. The Terra-Cotta Army was enduring because it showed that the Chinese believed in the after-life which influenced many religions. The creating of the soldiers was also important because it helped create jobs and taught people to work together to get one big job done. This was the beginning of the assembly system. **

**Confucianism** Confucianism was a philosophy based on the ideas of [|Confucius] that focuses on morality, family order, social harmony, and government. Confucianism is important because it led to the development of the monarchies.

**Paper** Paper was one of the most important of all Chinese inventions. It gave the Chinese a cheap and easy way of keeping records and made all the later printing inventions possible.

**Woodblock Printing** Woodblock printing is a form of printing in which an entire page is carved into a block of wood. The printer applies ink to the block and presses paper against the block to create a page. Printers could now copy drawings and texts quickly, much faster than when they had to do it by hand.

**Gunpowder** Gunpowder is a mixture of powders used in guns and explosives. This was important because now they could use the gunpowder to put in fireworks, weapons, and signals.

**Movable Type** Movable type was when carved letters could be rearranged and reused to print many different massages. This was important because now people could print much faster.

**The Magnetic Compass** The magnetic compass is an instrument which uses the earth's magnetic field to show direction. The compass allowed sailors and merchants to travel vast distances and not get lost.

**Paper Money** Paper money was invented because it was lighter and easier to handle than coins. Paper money helped the Chinese manage their growing wealth. Paper money is still used today in a market economy.

**The Crossbow:** The Chinese invented the crossbow while many of the other great civilizations hadn't dreamed of creating something like that. The crossbows were advanced (for their time) and could defeat any other military unit.

These contributions are just a few of China's enduring impacts. Many of these contributions are still used around the world today, and contributed to China's manufacturing, growth, and wealth.

[|**Bibliography**] [|**Burnstein, Stanley M., and Richard Shek.** __**World history**__**. Orlando, Austin, NewYork, San Diego, Toronto, London: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2006.**]


 * Created by Halle and Biral **