1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

What did the ancient Chinese invent? Among the great inventions of the ancient Chinese were the first compass, gunpowder (which they used in war and in fireworks), and the art of papermaking. But perhaps their most famous invention was silk. The Chinese were weaving delicate patterns in silk by about 1000 BC. The Chinese invented gunpowder, which they used in fireworks as we still do today   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: Chinese, Japanese Civilisations