Science Forums 2

[Michaelangelica]

So did China invent almost everything?
Gunpowder, moveable type, compass, plant grafting, paper the wheel barrow (my favourite)even perfumed toilet paper
The astonishing Dr Joseph Needham - Part 1 of 3
I just listened to this? or something similar- but can't find the audio which was tacked on the end of the Boyer Lectures part 1.
transcript is here
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow...09/2456578.htm

In the case of Europe, the effects of Chinese inventions and artefacts were often far more profound than they were in China itself.
Ironically it was these same technologies, transformed by the scientific and industrial revolution, that were to rebound on China during the nineteenth century when the guns and cultural values of European imperialism were to bring an end to the cultural sovereignty of the Chinese empire, an empire that had maintained itself for over 2,000 years.

These days everybody knows that the Chinese invented practically everything hundreds of years ago.
What people don't realise is that this understanding is so new; in the early 1950s, nobody, not even those in China were aware of this amazing fact.
Then Dr Joseph Needham of Cambridge embarked on an exploration of China and the beginning of his massive work Science and Civilisation in China and in 2008 Simon Winchester's book Bomb, Book and Compass reminded the world of this achievement. Today in part 1 we talk to Simon Winchester but also hear once more the programs made in the 1970s with Needham himself.

The astonishing Dr Joseph Needham - Part 1 of 3 - Science Show - 3 January 2008

The Man Who Loved China (Bomb, Book and Compass) - Simon Winchester

Bomb, Book and Compass book review

Weapons in Ancient China
Saturday 22 November 2003

Summary

On a visit to China, Branwen Morgan visited the terracotta warriors and was intrigued to find that some of the ancient weapons appeared to be chrome plated.

The Science Show: 22 November* 2003* - Weapons in Ancient China