Li Wei woke up just as the sun began to peek over the tiled roofs of the city of Chang'an, the grand capital during the Tang Dynasty. Today was a special day; he was accompanying his father, a master potter, to the bustling Western Market.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed near the city wall. A group of alchemists were testing a new mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. They called it "fire-drug" or . For now, it was mostly used for colorful fireworks to scare away evil spirits, but Li Wei wondered if it would one day change the world. srednevekovyi kitai referat 6 klass
: His father checked a small device in a bowl of water—an "iron fish" or compass —to ensure they were heading exactly south toward the market gates. Li Wei woke up just as the sun
: Although they were often poor, farmers were respected because they produced the food that fed the empire. A group of alchemists were testing a new
: At the market, Li Wei watched a merchant exchange a lightweight slip of paper for a crate of silk. This "flying money" was much easier to carry than heavy bags of copper coins. 2. The Social Ladder
: Surprisingly, the wealthy traders were at the bottom of the ladder because they didn't "produce" anything new, only sold what others made. 3. A Moment of Wonder