Eva Peterson
Ms. Ogg
Global Studies 1
7 December 2013
Ten Contributions of Ancient China and India
1. Papermaking (China)
Without paper, todays world would be much different. No books or birth certificates, life as we know it would change dramatically! Before paper was invented, characters were written on animal bones, turtle shells, and heavy bamboo scrolls. If Cai Lun of the eastern Han dynasty hadn’t invented paper, we could still be using those materials.
2. Mathematics (India)
Although India did not ‘invent’ mathematics, civilization still owes the establishment of the decimal system to ancient India in the 5th century A.D. As well as the decimal system, Indian mathematician Aryabhatta also came up with mathematical equations to explain the rotation of the earth on its axis. He also declared the shape of the earth to be round and worked on the approximation of pi. India also became the first society to use zero as a number
3. The Compass (China)
The compass is such a simple tool, Yet without the invention of it, many famous voyages would not have been made. We owe the invention of the compass to ancient china. However, the first compass was not like the one we know today. It pointed south instead of north and was chiseled out of magnetic lodestone in the shape of a ladle or spoon.
4. Silk (China)
Silk is one of the biggest contributions from China. Even though it was invented so many years ago, it is still often used today. Since silk is such a comfortable fabric, it appeals to many people. The silk trade also promoted economic and cultural development from exchanges between China and its neighbor countries, forming the famous "Silk Road".
5. Yoga (India)
Yoga was a popular practice in ancient indian society and still remains a large part of indian culture today. Yoga is one of the oldest holistic health care systems that benefits the mind and body. There are many breathing techniques or ‘pranayama’ involved in yoga. Many use it as a way to connect with oneself and or divine being, but others may prefer to use it simply for relaxation and a way to find ones inner self. Without yoga, india’s culture would be very different from how we know it today.
6. Tea (China)
China has been making tea for almost 4,000 years and it still remains very popular in china and many other places in the world as well. There are many kinds of tea in china such as the Xihu Longjing Tea, which is a green tea that grows in the mountains around the Xihu lake. Tea plays a large role in chinese culture and possess many medicinal qualities as well. It can help with cold symptoms and even some illnesses.
7. Chess (India)
We have India to thank for the game of chess we play today. The word chess come from the sanskrit term ‘caturanga’. Silk road travellers and buddhist pilgrims spread the game all the way to europe and in the tenth century the game was modified into the one we know today.
8. Eclipses (India)
Although India did not INVENT eclipses. An astronomer/mathematician by the name of aryabhata was a major help in discovering the cycles and times of eclipses. He explains eclipses in terms of “shadows cast by, and falling on earth” and calculated the time better than some astronomers that came AFTER he did!
9. Porcelain (China)
Porcelain was invented in Sui dynasty and was respected greatly by the world. It was then improved in the Tang dynasty by Tao-Yue. The porcelain that tao yue made was made of white clay from a river near where he lived. Porcelain was also often painted and used for making tea. Later, when european porcelain was invented, chinese porcelain was no longer as popular as it once was.
10. Kites (China)
Kites might not be a very important part of todays society, but they are a lot of fun! Nobody really has proof as to when the first kite was flown, but some speculate that a farmer tied his hat to a string to keep it from blowing away and thus, the first kite was born. Others think that it may have been inspired by the sails on chinese boats that influenced the first kite. Today, kites still remain a part of children's lives all around the world.
Works Cited
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