Synopsis
Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the most extraordinary inventions from the ancient Chinese world.
- Programme: What the Ancients Did for Us
- Episode: 02: The Chinese
- Channel: BBC Two
- Broadcast year: 2008
Licence: ERA Licence required
Free to watch for UK schools, colleges and universities with an ERA Licence
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
Roving reporter Hermione Cockburn describes Aztec, Mayan and Incan inventions, including chocolate, suspension ...
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
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
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
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
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
Adam Hart-Davis concludes his tour of Britain with a visit to west Norfolk to look at the region's farming history.