When TV shows have a narrow historical focus or make claims that seem a little too bold, it's only right to challenge them and if necessary redress the balance. Such is the case with the US TV series "Man at Arms: Art of War" and its assertions on how ahead of the world was Chinese ironworking.

How effective was the Chinese Xuan Feng or "Whirlwind" stone-thrower?

Every so often, over the last decade at least, our modern-day bards, the media, regurgitate a story about “European-looking” people in north-west China claiming ancient Roman descent. This tale of a “lost legion” is just another myth that does not stand up to scrutiny.

A brief history and description of common ingredients, in this case, tea.