In 221BC, at approximately the same time that the Roman Empire was establishing hegemony in the Mediterranean, Qin Shihuang, the first Qin Emperor, conquered the warring states and founded the Qin Dynasty (221-207BC) -- the first united, centralized, multi-ethnic nation in Chinese history. The Qin Dynasty was followed by many dynasties, which have left a legacy of fascinating stories, and have provided a wealth of inspiration for modern Chinese art, literature, film, and television.

Traditional Chinese culture -- drawing from philosophy, religion, and ethics; art and literature; science and technology; and even ecology and the environment -- embodies the development and wisdom of the Chinese people. It is not only the priceless inheritance of the people of China, but also a great treasure belonging to all humanity.

China's many inventions (especially its Four Great Inventions of paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder) and wide range of knowledge have had a far-reaching effect on human development.. When Christopher Columbus embarked on his great voyages to the New World, the Chinese compass provided him with vital assistance. Floating pontoon bridges were in use in China before 1100BC, and the world's earliest astronomical treatise, Gan Shi Xing Jing (The Classic of the Stars), was written in China during the Warring States Period.

Zhang Heng invented the celestial globe, used to study star-related phenomena, and the seismograph, used to measure seismic activity, during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), Zu Chongzi calculated the value of pi (π) to be between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927, becoming the first person in the world to accurately determine the value of pi (π) to seven decimal places. Li Shizhen's famous Compendium of Materia Medica, written in the 16th century, lists over 1,800 different medical remedies and over 10,000 prescriptions.

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