But he also chronicles the history of the 19th and 20th century's most famous inventors -- with an emphasis on how their inventions were really neither theirs, nor inventions.

Moveable type. The second of the Four Great Inventions is actually two inventions, both from China. Woodblock printing was invented around 704 CE, with multiple examples of printing on paper being ...

Over time people slowly began to trace back the inventions and determined they had originated from China. In science, the four great inventions have had the most important influence on the West.