A brief history of four great Chinese inventions

China was the world's first country to make paper. Paper was made during the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 8 AD).

In 105, Cai Lun improved the papermaking method. He used worn-out fishnet, tree bark, bits of rope, and rags as raw materials, which could be easily found and bought at low cost. The invention and use of paper led to a revolution in the manufacture of writing materials, paving the way for the invention of printing technologies.

So, Chinese invented two types of printing - woodblock printing and moveable type printing. The second one was invented in China in the 1040s by Bi Sheng, who employed baked clay pottery characters placed on an iron frame.

It is said that China's first use of gunpowder in warfare was in 919. Many believe explorer Marco Polo introduced Chinese gunpowder to Europe through the ancient Silk Road. In later years, it is believed to have led to the invention of guns and cannon which replaced old weapons such as swords and bows.