02: The Chinese | What the Ancients Did for Us

Duration: 58'44''

Synopsis

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the most extraordinary inventions from the ancient Chinese world.

Further Information

More clips from What the Ancients Did for Us

01: The Islamic World | What the Ancients Did for Us

01: The Islamic World | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 57'53''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the most extraordinary inventions from the early Islamic World.

03: The Aztecs, Maya and Incas | What the Ancients Did for Us

03: The Aztecs, Maya and Incas | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 58'57''

Roving reporter Hermione Cockburn describes Aztec, Mayan and Incan inventions, including chocolate, suspension ...

04: The Indians | What the Ancients Did for Us

04: The Indians | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 59'03''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the ancient Indian world.

05: The Mesopotamians | What the Ancients Did for Us

05: The Mesopotamians | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 58'57''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of the Mesopotamians.

06: The Britons | What the Ancients Did for Us

06: The Britons | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 58'59''

Adam Hart-Davis and Jamie Darling examine the highlights of ancient British technology.

07: The Romans | What the Ancients Did for Us

07: The Romans | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 59'07''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of ancient Rome.

08: The Egyptians | What the Ancients Did for Us

08: The Egyptians | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 58'59''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of ancient Egypt.

09: The Greeks | What the Ancients Did for Us

09: The Greeks | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 59'02''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of ancient Greece.

More resources about Ancient China

Episode 1 | The Silk Road

Episode 1 | The Silk Road

BBC Four | 2016 | 59'05''

Sam Willis traces the story of the famous trade route. He explores Venice's Renaissance architecture and art before travelling to the beginning of ...

Episode 2 | The Silk Road

Episode 2 | The Silk Road

BBC Four | 2016 | 58'52''

Sam Willis travels west to Central Asia, a place of major innovations, big historical characters and a people - the Sogdians - whose role was pivot...

05: The Last Empire | The Story of China

05: The Last Empire | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'02''

Michael Wood looks at China's Qing empire, which lasted from 1644 to 1912. Under the Qing, China doubled in size and became arguably...

Episode 3 | The Silk Road

Episode 3 | The Silk Road

BBC Four | 2016 | 59'03''

Sam Willis continues his journey west in Iran. He begins in Persepolis, heart of the first Persian Empire, before heading to Istanbul and then comi...

01: Ancestors | The Story of China

01: Ancestors | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'00''

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Michael joins the Qin family reunion, as 300 relatives gather to worsh...

02: Silk Roads and China Ships | The Story of China

02: Silk Roads and China Ships | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'04''

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Michael tells the tale of China's first international...

03: The Golden Age | The Story of China

03: The Golden Age | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'54''

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Here, he focuses on the Song dynasty era (960-1279), including it...

04: The Ming | The Story of China

04: The Ming | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'04''

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. The tale of the Ming dynasty begins with the amazing story of Hongwu, a...

The Shang Empire | Learning Zone

The Shang Empire | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'01''

The Shang developed writing amongst other inventions. This Bronze Age society developed a powerful army using bronze weapons.

More from Adam Hart-Davis

S02E06: South East | Local Heroes

S02E06: South East | Local Heroes

BBC Two | 1997 | 29'01''

Adam Hart-Davis's search for Britain's greatest scientific pioneers is in South-East England, where he looks at the work of Hertha Ayrton, ...

The Clock That Changed the World | A History of the World

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Adam Hart-Davis tells the story of the amazing 280-year-old wooden clock, made in Lincolnshire, that changed timeke...

03: The Aztecs, Maya and Incas | What the Ancients Did for Us

03: The Aztecs, Maya and Incas | What the Ancients Did for Us

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Roving reporter Hermione Cockburn describes Aztec, Mayan and Incan inventions, including chocolate, suspension ...

20: Anglesey | Hart-Davis on History

20: Anglesey | Hart-Davis on History

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Adam Hart-Davis and Jayne Constantinis visit Anglesey, featuring a look at the Menai Straits, Welsh music, Beaumaris Castle, Amlwch Port...

02: The Applyance of Science | What the Stuarts Did for Us

02: The Applyance of Science | What the Stuarts Did for Us

BBC Two | 2002 | 29'04''

Hart-Davis travels around Britain to introduce the idea and inventions of the Stuart Period in science and enginee...

01: Seeying the Worlde | What The Tudors Did For Us

01: Seeying the Worlde | What The Tudors Did For Us

BBC Two | 2002 | 32'54''

The development of scientific instruments gave the Tudors new worlds to explore, both on land and on sea. And did the Eng...

04: Crime and Punishment | What the Victorians Did For Us

04: Crime and Punishment | What the Victorians Did For Us

BBC Two | 2001 | 28'52''

Adam Hart-Davis investigates the Victorian innovations that left a lasting impression on British society. In this p...

01: Life of Luxury | What the Romans Did for Us

01: Life of Luxury | What the Romans Did for Us

BBC Two | 2000 | 28'47''

Adam Hart-Davis investigates the lavish lifestyles of the Romans, visiting the sumptuous villa at Fishbourne, the famous bath...

15: West Norfolk | The History Hour

15: West Norfolk | The History Hour

BBC Two | 1997 | 58'53''

Adam Hart-Davis concludes his tour of Britain with a visit to west Norfolk to look at the region's farming history.