The three inventions that effected the people were gunpowder, compass, and printing. Chinese alchemists (chemists) first discovered gunpowder. The basic ingredients for gunpowder are charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur. After this discovery, Chinese armies used the gunpowder to make fire lances, a weapon used to scare away enemies. Later they made hand grenades to throw at enemy troops. The Chinese used gunpowder to make rockets. Most rockets were used for celebrations, similar to modern fireworks. Later they developed a two-stage rocket, a weapon used to carry the arrow over the advancing force. The Chinese built the first cannon in the thirteenth century.

The compass was another Chinese discovery that the nations of the West took eagerly. The Chinese discovered that a type f iron ore called lodestone attracts pieces of metal. From this, they made the "south-pointing spoon."

A German printer thought that he invented a new process to...