1. The Han Dynasty
By Kinza Parker

2. Introduction- What is Important?
What is important about the Han dynasty? How did it contribute to China? Well, today we’re talking about 3 important categories and their topics:
Scientific Achievements; astronomy, seismograph/compass
Industries; salt, silk
Medicine; moxibustion/acupuncture, anesthetic
Read this, and soon you will know how the Han contributed to the whole of China!

3. Scientific achievements
Chinese astronomers recorded the appearance of comets, or “broom stars” as they called them. They discovered that the moon reflects the sun’s light, and solar eclipses happen when the moon blocks the sun.
During this period , the Chinese also had invented the seismograph and the compass. A seismograph detects earthquakes, enabling the Han to detect earthquakes up to several hundred miles away. The Han also discovered that when a lodestone is carved in the shape of a spoon it makes a magnetic compass. This is important for many building projects.
Internet sources
the compass was used for geomancy before navigation
The seismograph was nicknamed toads frolicking with dragons.

4. Industries
One of the most important industries was the silk industry. Silk was a very important trade item. A foot-powered machine was made so you could easily weave silk.
Another Important industry was the salt industry. People only used to know how to get salt from the sea, but during the Han dynasty people learned to mine salt from the ground.
Internet sources
Silk comes from the cocoon of a silk worm (which is really a caterpillar).
Brine was drawn from the ground, and cooked till the water evaporated and only salt was left.

5. Colors on the skin told the nature and progression of the illness.
Medicine
The Chinese believe that illness comes when the yin and yang in the body are out of balance. One technique to fix this is acupuncture, which is for sicknesses that come quickly (ie. Head aches). One technique for long term sicknesses (ie. Arthritis) is moxibustion.
Also, the Han discovered a type of wine that acts as an anesthetic. Anesthetic is something that takes away the feeling of pain.
Internet sources
Physicians felt for the nature of the illness, not the strength of the blood.
Colors on the skin told the nature and progression of the illness.

6. Congratulations 
And now you know, the Han dynasty is important because of its inventions to improve the daily life of ancient China!