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Which Chinese inventions spread westward during the Pax Mongolica?

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Historical map of the Mongol Empire at the death of Kublai Khan in 1294, showing the empire divided into four main khanates: the Golden Horde in the northwest, the Ilkhanate in the southwest, the Chagatai Khanate in central Asia, and the Yuan Dynasty in the east, covering much of China. Major cities such as Karakorum, Beijing (Khanbaliq), Baghdad, and Constantinople are marked.
Mongol empire

During the Pax Mongolica, the stability and security provided by the Mongol empire facilitated the westward spread of several key Chinese innovations across Eurasia. These technologies became more widely known in western Asia and Europe as a result of increased trade, travel, and the movement of skilled artisans and specialists under Mongol rule.12

The primary Chinese inventions that spread westward during this period include:

  • Papermaking: The techniques for producing paper moved along trade networks, eventually transforming communication and record-keeping in the West.12
  • Printing: Knowledge of printing technologies spread, which some historians suggest may have influenced the later development of printing in Europe through stimulus diffusion.123
  • Gunpowder: This technology spread through warfare and trade, reaching the Islamic world and eventually Europe, where it fundamentally changed military tactics and the nature of warfare.1245
  • Magnetic Compass: The use of the compass for navigation became more widely known, significantly impacting maritime travel and exploration.12