960–1279 CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Song Dynasty: An Age of Invention
On the timeline · around 960–1279 CE · Song, Yuan & Ming
What happened
The Song dynasty (960–1279) presided over a burst of innovation and commerce. Bi Sheng devised movable-type printing, the magnetic compass was adapted for navigation, gunpowder was turned into weapons of war, and the government issued the world's first paper money.
Why it matters
Song China was arguably the most technologically advanced society in the world of its day; three of its innovations — printing, the compass, and gunpowder — would help transform the entire globe.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Song Dynasty · Reputable source