What were the major developments of this period?
As early as AD 105, the Chinese knew how to make paper and how to print. They perfected printing and used wooden blocks to print books. Science was also prospering. China gave the world the compass. While Europe struggled to fight the plague, China, Korea and Japan were developing rapidly. However, some strange ideas also crept in.During the Sui dynasty, around AD 500, the emperor ordered that only the rich would wear colours and the common people would wear blue or black. During the Sung dynasty, around AD 1100, a painful sign of nobility was used. The feet of little girls were bound so tight that they never grew more than 7.6 centimetres (3 inches) long. The bandages broke the toes of girls as young as five years old. The toes bent under the feet. As women, they could barely walk. These lily feet were in fashion for over 1,000 years until they were banned in 1912.
