Political Crossfire Forums

[XiangYu]

jeechoscopy wrote: Their claim may realistic...
You know leather had also been used as a paper but Egyptians never claim for that discovery because of the distinct form of preparation and usage.

I find there other inventions by the ancient Chiniese...

P.S. TwinkieDP, I recognise you by the last line of your signature. :-D Yes, I know for sure that many ancient Chinese have also used Bamboo strips of about 12 inch long and 1.5 inches wide to write on as well. They would string these strips together, and roll them up into a scroll form.

About the claim that Gunpowder originated in China, I've read a book that made the claim that gunpowder was first discovered by some German monk accidentally. We know for certain that gunpowder weapons have been used in Song Dynasty China in the Chinese attempt to repell Mongol conquest of Southern China. That was around 12th to 13th century A.D. I would imagine gunpowder was in use in China even earlier than that.

As to which civilization first discovered such and such invention, the only reliable source are archaeological ones, but even such evidence are often incomplete or self-contradictory.

[XiangYu]

One fact that many Europeans seem to neglect is, one of the major motivations for the European Age of Exploration was to find a better route to Asia and China. Marco Polo visited the courts of Kublai Khan (13th Century A.D.) and returned with stories of great cities. Asia was a dominant economic region in those times, thus the desire to reach East Asia and formalize trade. Silk and Porcelain from China, spices from SouthEast Asia, those were highly sought after commodities. The Italians and Arabs became prosperous by becoming middlemen for such goods.

[XiangYu]

jeechoscopy wrote: Their claim may realistic...
You know leather had also been used as a paper but Egyptians never claim for that discovery because of the distinct form of preparation and usage.

I find there other inventions by the ancient Chiniese...



P.S. TwinkieDP, I recognise you by the last line of your signature. :-D The only thing I know about Egyptian paper is that it was made from Papyrus, a form of reed plant that grows on the Nile river. Perhaps you would so kind as to provide some links on this subject???

[KOV-14]

Have they discovered anything since then?