the busy waterways of the large river systems. Within the harbours of the port cities, thousands of boat people lived in floating villages. The strong Chinese family network provided security in a land where natural disasters like insect plagues, floods and droughts frequently destroyed harvests and homes.
SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. Look closely at SOURCE3. What clues does this image give us about social order at the time? 2. Discuss the significance of your observations.
SOURCE3 This Song dynasty painting shows a son kneeling submissively in front of his parents.
10.3.3 Song inventions and ideas Many inventions and ideas have their roots in ancient China. From the fourth century CE, the western world was greatly influenced by Chinese developments such as those in the following table.
TABLE1 Some of the inventions that originate in Ancient China Invention
Purpose
The loom
Weaving silk
The compass
Establishing directions and distances
The breast strap harness and the foot stirrup
Horse riding Steering ships Moving items Obtaining metals
The stern post rudder
The wheelbarrow The blast furnace
The mechanical clock
To keep time and track the movements of the sun, moon and stars
The Chinese discovered that a combination of coal, saltpetre and sulphur would make gunpowder 300 years before the Europeans learned this knowledge from them. The Song dynasty leaders recognised the military usefulness of gunpowder and used it to set off fires and create frightening clouds of smoke. Song China defended itself against the Mongol army by hurling gunpowder grenades from catapults and shooting flaming arrows from thick bamboo tubes.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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