Inventions That Changed Humanity and History Forever
There’s no denying that some inventions have totally shaped history. Human curiosity and creativity have driven amazing advances in science and technology, from basic tools to Mars Exploration Rovers (MER). Here, we’ll uncover important inventions, how they’ve changed over time, and the brilliant people who created them. It’s all about celebrating human innovation!
Inventions That Changed the World
The wheel is one of the most important inventions. After all, before it was created around 3500 B.C., people were limited in how they were able to travel and get around. The real challenge wasn’t just making a round object, however, it was figuring out how to attach a stable base to a rolling cylinder. They did this by connecting the wheel to an axle — and that’s what truly revolutionized transportation.
Between 1440 and 1450, German innovator Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the world with the invention of the printing press. Central to its advancement was the introduction of the hand mold — a novel molding technique facilitating swift production of extensive quantities of metal movable type.
Back in ancient times, sailors used stars to find their way on the sea, though this method had its limitations. Cloudy nights and daytime made it hard to navigate far from the coast. The first compass was invented during China’s Han dynasty, originally for fortune-telling. It wasn’t until the Song Dynasty — between the 11th and 12th centuries — that people figured out how to use it for navigation. Later on, the compass made its way to the Western world with sailors and travelers.
Lighting
It’s no secret that the light bulb is one of those inventions that changed society big time. Not only did it free people from being dependent on natural light, but it also allowed them to work day and night. While many inventors were working on this kind of technology during the 1800s, Thomas Edison is noted as the inventor of the light bulb. In 1879, he came up with a whole system that included a generator, wires, and a bulb made of carbon filament.
While there was much debate around who invented the telephone, it was Alexander Graham Bell from Scotland who got the very first patent for the electric telephone on March 7th, 1876. He even drew a picture of it in his patent! Just three days later, Bell made history with the world’s very first phone call. He called his assistant, Thomas A. Watson, from the next room.
Modern Inventions Also Matter
The development of the internal combustion engine took a long time and lots of scientists worked together. The engine that we know today came about in the late 1800s. This innovation didn’t just kickstart the Industrial Age — it also made it possible to create all kinds of machines.
In the early 1960s, a group of research scientists came up with the idea to create a globally interconnected set of computers that would allow people to quickly and easily access data and programs from any site.
By the late ’60s, the world saw the first group of networked computers communicate with each other, and ARPANET — or the Advanced Projects Research Agency Network — became the start of the internet.