They used this in city planning at first, but it became very important to map makers and for the navigation of ships. The Compass - The Chinese invented the magnetic compass to help determine the correct direction. This was actually hundreds of years before the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in Europe. Printing - Wood block printing was invented in AD 868 and then moveable type around 200 years later. The first paper was invented in the 2nd century BC and the manufacture later perfected around 105 AD. Paper - Paper was invented by the Chinese as well as many interesting uses for paper like paper money and playing cards. They managed to keep the process for making silk a secret for hundreds of years. The Chinese learned how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. It became such a valuable export that the trade route running from Europe to China became known as the Silk Road. Silk - Silk was a soft and light material much desired by the wealthy throughout the world.
Here are some of the notable inventions and discoveries made by the engineers and scientists of Ancient China:
