Unit 20 Mainly revision

扩展资料

“China; Ancient Arts & Sciences”

　　The Ancient Arts and Science. the most important exhibition of science and technology ever, come from the People s Republic of China. In the museum visitors can see the astounding array of scientific and technological innovations developed in China over seventy centuries of human endeavor. Over three hundred artifacts are on display- offering only a peek at the wealth of China s artistic and scientific ancestry,
　　The sciences of astronomy, physics, chemistry, meteorology, seismology, technology, engineering, and mathematics can trace their early origins to China. From 600 AD until 1500 AD, China was the world's most technologically advanced society. Scholars routinely discovered scientific principles, invented new technologies, and influenced the development of human civilizations around the world. The Ancient Arts and Sciences tells the story of four of these revolutionary Chinese technologies: printing, papermaking, gunpowder, and the magnetic compass. Printing and papermaking impacted record—keeping and learning for Chinese society. The invention of gunpowder gave the Chinese a distinct advantage over their enemies, changing the nature of warfare. The compass enabled trade and exploration in whole new ways.
　　Typically, the history of human achievement has shown that the development of new technologies impacts the cultural practices of society. The Ancient Arts and Sciences shows how craftsmen used new technology to improve their art. Crafts like bronze-casting, porcelain-making, and silk weaving all improved with the mastery of the raw materials resulting from technological advances.

Papermaking (造纸)

　　Chinese legend tells that the new invention of paper was presented to the Emperor in the year 105 AD by Cai Lun. Archeological evidence, however, shows that paper was in use two hundred years before then. Either way, the Chinese were significantly ahead of the rest of the world. The craft of papermaking relied upon an abundance of bamboo fiber to produce a fine quality paper. In ancient China, the papermaker uses only the traditional materials and methods lo produce fine art paper.

Printing（印刷）

　　The Chinese invention of moveable type., credited to Bi Sheng in the year 1045 AD, did not significantly impact Chinese society. Three hundred years later in Europe, Gutenberg’s development of moveable type revolutionized the Western world. Why? The Chinese language uses 3000 to 5000 characters in an average newspaper. The English language, in comparison, uses 26 characters in average newspaper. Clearly, manipulating 5000 characters on a printing press look much longer than moving 26. Still, the invention of moveable type furthered Chinese technology and its role in the advancement, of human civilization .

Gunpowder（火药）

　　Imagine their enemy's surprise when the Chinese first demonstrated their newest invention in the eighth century AD. Chinese scientists discovered that an explosive mixture could be produced by combining sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter( potassium nitrate) - The military applications were clear. New weapons were rapidly developed, including rockets and others that were launched from a bamboo tube. Once again, the raw materials at hand, like bamboo, contributed ideas for new technologies.

Compass（指南针）

　　By the third century AD. Chinese scientists had studied and learned much about magnetism in nature, For example, they knew that iron ore, called magnetite, tended to align itself in a North/South position. Scientists learned to “make magnets” by heating pieces of ore to red hot temperatures and then cooling the pieces in a North/South position. The magnet was then placed on a piece of reed and floated in a bowl of water marked with directional bearings. Those first navigational compasses were widely used on Chinese ships by the eleventh century AD.

Chinese invention—printing

　　Chinese inventions during the Tang and Song dynasties had far-reaching effects. In the 700s, the Chinese invented printing. Earlier Chinese inventions such as paper and the use of seals to stamp documents had paved the way for printing.
　　Buddhist monks probably developed block printing to make copies of sacred texts and prayers. They carved characters onto wooden blocks that were inked and pressed onto paper. The earliest known printed work is a Buddhist text called the Diamond Sutra, produced in 868. It was printed on six large sheets that were then attached to form a 16-foot-fong scroll.
　　About 1050, the Chinese began to use movable type—pieces of metal containing Chinese characters that could be combined to form sentences. The metal pieces could be used again and again. The use of movable type enabled the Chinese to produce many more books.