SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. How does the mechanism of the water-powered Song clock in Kaifeng work, and what purpose do you think the 14-minute 24-second rotation is for? 2. What is the significance of the water clocks like the one in SOURCE4 ? 3. How does this ancient
SOURCE4 A water-powered Song clock in Kaifeng. The wheel rotated every 14 minutes and 24 seconds, tipping water from one bucket into another.
water-powered clock compare to modern timekeeping devices in terms of accuracy and technology?
SOURCE5 A Song dynasty description of one of the uses of gunpowder
At the end-of-year festival ... there were many firecrackers ... there were fuses so arranged that when you lit one it set off hundreds of others ... [Some] fireworks ... were like wheels and revolving things, others like comets, and others again shooting along the surface of the water, or flying like kites ...
Spreading the word Printing began in China 700 years before it was shared with Europe. In 750 CE, sheets of paper were stamped with inked blocks of wood into which Chinese characters had been carved. It was a quick and easy process known as ‘block printing’. By the ninth century, the blocks had become much larger and each could print a whole page. Over the centuries, labour-saving methods of printing were developed. The Song dynasty printer Bi Sheng made characters out of clay and set them in a frame. These clay characters could then be removed and new characters arranged for printing the next page. 10.3.4 The dynasty crumbles Despite its achievements, the Song dynasty was not strong in military power. Northern tribes, the Khitan and Jurchen, often raided Song territory. In 1004 CE, the Song agreed to give silver and silk to the Khitan for peace, but this failed. By 1120, the Song supported the Jurchen against the Khitan. The Jurchen won and then invaded the Song, who tried to use gunpowder weapons to defend themselves. The defence failed, and the Jurchen captured the Song capital in 1126, establishing the Jin dynasty.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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