We use the Past Simple for actions that started and finished in the past,for actions that happened one after another in the past and for habits in the past.
Did a women invent the washing machine?
She thought of an idea, found a pen and wrote it down.
I didn't watch cartoons when i was a child.
We use the Past Continuous to talk about actions that were happening at a particular time in the past, about two or more actions that were happening at the same time in the past and to set the scene of a story.
Were you doing your science project at 8 o'clock last night?
My dad was fixing my bike and I was helping him.