I agree, there is some ambiguity with where some of these inventions originated and what is the definitive version of the first occurrence. For example the scientist Alhazen is undoubtedly one of the most important scientists of all time and among the founders of modern optics but he never actually made a telescope although certainly developed the science which laid the foundations for it's later invention.

Paper in it's modern form has been found in China dating from the second century BC

Gunpowder predates Islam (for that matter it essentially predates Christianity as an organised religion) as it is widely sourced as a Chinese invention in about 150 AD.

Of course, with the silk r...

I agree, there is some ambiguity with where some of these inventions originated and what is the definitive version of the first occurrence. For example the scientist Alhazen is undoubtedly one of the most important scientists of all time and among the founders of modern optics but he never actually made a telescope although certainly developed the science which laid the foundations for it's later invention.

Paper in it's modern form has been found in China dating from the second century BC

Gunpowder predates Islam (for that matter it essentially predates Christianity as an organised religion) as it is widely sourced as a Chinese invention in about 150 AD.

Of course, with the silk road between Europe and China there is a great possibility that the basic concepts are augmented on their journey through the near and middle east, and as we all know history is told from the aspect of the culture which is telling it. Which is why we in the west believe that we invented Printing, Helicopters and the odometer (All China) and that Columbus discovered the Americas. Having said that the Fortune Cookie is an American invention.