This fifth volume abridgement of Joseph Needham's monumental work is concerned with the staggering civil engineering feats made in early and medieval China.

Volumes I and II of the major series: China: its language, geography and history ; Chinese philosophy and scientific thought.

With this part of Volume 4, then, we come to the application by the Chinese of physical principles in the control of forces and in the use of power; we cross the frontier separating tools from the machine.

This volume details the early Chinese contributions to various sciences.

In this series of essays and lectures, Joseph Needham explores the mystery of China's early lead and Europe's later overtaking.

The major part of the book is then devoted to the history of scientific thought in China itself. Beginning with ancient times, it describes the milieu in which arose the schools of the Confucians, Taoists, Mohists, Logicians and Legalists.

After two volumes mainly introductory, Dr Needham now embarks upon his systematic study of the development of the natural sciences in China.