Undisputed masters of invention and discovery, the ancient Chinese were the first to drill for oil, to discover the circulation of the blood, and even to isolate sex hormones. From the suspension bridge and fishing reel, to the decimal system and grenades, China's contributions in engineering, medicine, technology, maths, science, warfare, transportation and music helped inspire the West's agricultural and industrial revolutions.
Based on the immense scholarship of Dr Joseph Needham – the world's foremost scholar of Chinese science – Robert Temple now captures the spirit and excitement of centuries of ingenuity in this highly accessible, lavishly illustrated volume.
