Three Major Inventions from Southeast Asia

Groundbreaking Innovations

1. Movable Metal Type Printing Press: Jikji (Korea, 1377) – oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, predating Gutenberg by 78 years.
2. Paper Money: First issued in China during the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
3. Gunpowder: Originated in China as early as 9th century; earliest formula in a 1st-century B.C. alchemical text.

These inventions revolutionized communication, finance, and warfare globally.