Re: Inventions

Now I must "weigh" in...according to this page, the chinese didn't
invent the
magnetic compass...they invented the "South Pointing Chariot".	They
also
state that nowhere does the chinese documentation ever discribe a
"magnetic"
compass.  Appairantly all discriptions refer the the mechanical variety.

An ingenus mechanical device that always points in the same direction. 
As you
pull it along, the gears inside make the little figure on top turn left
and
right opposite to the way the chariot was turned.  (Really cool!  Check
it
out!)

This gizmo would be compleatly useless at sea.	If they didn't invent
the
magnetic compass, where did they get it from?

Sorry to break a bubble...:-)

Donald Hosford

"K.H.Ranitzsch" wrote:

> > > Brian (and others),  I cannot agree with this as the
> > > Universe really feels
> > > like it is written from a Western perspective. It
> >
> > Yes, well who's invented 99+% of the things you use in
> > the world today?
>
> The Chinese ?
> Paper, ink, the compass, blackpowder, rockets, silk, real seaworthy
ships,
> oil-drilling, cast iron, printing...
>
> ;-)
> Karl Heinz