Wheel
Used in everything from chariots to the modern day car, the wheel was invented around 3,500 B.C. in Mesopotamia. First used for pottery, it was only 300 years later that it was used for transportation.
Compass
The origins of the compass can be traced back to the 4th century B.C. to the Han dynasty of China. The ability to navigate when the sky was overcast ushered in an era of trade and led to the Age of Discovery.
Printing press
First invented in China as a printing block. Johannes Gutenberg in the 1440s invented a moving-type printing press, allowing knowledge to be spread more quickly and cheaply, this invention ushered in the Renaissance.
Steam engine
The steam engine was worked on by an array of inventors through the 1700s, ushering in the Industrial Revolution. Steam power changed not only travel and goods production but also the structure of society.
Camera
In 1861, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce invented the first photographic camera, although its origins rely on centuries of contributions. The camera gave man the ability to capture a moment in time and allowed us to present the truth visually.
Aeroplane
Wilbur and Orville Wright created history with their first flight in a powered aeroplane in 1903. Aeroplanes have changed the way people travel, reducing the time taken from several days to mere hours.
Penicillin
In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin, forever changing the field of medicine. Penicillin forms the base of many antibiotics today and allows doctors to treat previously incurable diseases.
Semiconductor
The semiconductor industry was formed in the 1960s, although its birth can be traced back to 1874. Semiconductors are an critical part of the modern world. They are present in our mobile phones, cars, satellites, etc.
Internet
Developed in the 1960s as a way for government researchers to share information, the Internet has revolutionised the world communicates and ushered in the Information Age.
Artificial intelligence
The past few years have seen the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) software like ChatGPT, Gemini, and many others. AI holds the potential to reshape every aspect of human life.
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