Skip to Content

Top 10 Greatest Inventions, Explained

General

Top 10 Greatest Inventions

#1) THE CONTROL OF FIRE

The control of fire ranked #1 of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions. The choice was a relatively easy selection. If one asks Google: What is the greatest invention of all time? Common answers are: wheel, printing press, electric light. Ask a young person and the internet or computer are common answers. Why, then, is control of fire the top invention? The reasons are several:

First, fire control was arguably the first great invention dating back to 1.7 million BCE and Homo habilis. More conclusive evidence of controlled fire use dates to Homo erectus at about 1.0 million BCE. Homo sapiens separated from other hominids around 250,000 BCE. So the controlled use of fire dates to the beginnings of Homo sapiens. An estimated 110 billion Homo sapiens have lived including an estimated 30 billion before the beginning of written history in 3500 BCE. So basically, every human since the beginning of humankind has been influenced by fire. The internet by comparison has seen only one generation of less than 10 billion people. Billions still have no access to the internet.

Next, there are 35 prehistoric uses of fire

which are all listed on the InventTable under control of fire. Heat, light, cooking, protection, sterilizing water, signaling, hunting, creation of charcoal, clearing land, burning waste, repelling insects, cauterize wounds, drying objects, food preservation, waterproofing, drive off bees for honey, warfare, religious ceremonies, toothpaste, and soap are the main uses.

Third, in the Top 100 Inventions of All Time, 1/3 directly require fire or thermal treatments to produce the invention. Another 1/3 indirectly use heat or fire to produce the invention. Combined, 2/3 of the Top 100 directly or indirectly use fire in the production of the inventions. Control of fire seems even more important since the beginning of history (3500 BCE) as prehistory. The choice of control of fire as the most important and influential invention of all time to me seems obvious and indisputable.

#2) WRITTEN LANGUAGE (WRITING BY HAND)

Cuneiform text, hand written language
Cuneiform hand written language

Data inventions represent one class of all inventions. Data inventions are the most important class of technology, as important as the four other technology classes (energy, machines, materials, and biotechnology) combined. Great explosions of technology have occurred in history when triggered by major inventions in data communication or data storage.

The big bang is an explosion of inventions

which occurred over a short period of time and results in major inventions across all technology classes. The big bang occurred with the invention of written language in 3500 BCE. A proto form of writing using tokens and jars as a 3 dimensional form of permanent communication developed in Sumer, Mesopotamia around 7500 BCE. The token system evolved and improved for 4000 years culminating in the development of cuneiform writing on clay tables around 3500 BCE. The clay tablets were a permanent ceramic record of the contents of the written material.

So why was written language the second of the top greatest inventions? What proof do we have of this importance? In Sumer, Mesopotamia in 3500 BCE, the big bang of technology occurred. Within a couple hundred years, 4 of the top 11 inventions of all time originated. From 250,000 BCE to 3500 BCE, 3 top 11 inventions originated from over a span of 247, 500 years or one invention for each 80,000 years. In 3500 BCE this stagnation of technology and invention abruptly stopped, resulting in perhaps the single most important technology explosion, or big bang, in human history.

Written language (#2) in cuneiform on clay tablets began around 3500 BCE in Sumer, Mesopotamia. The plow (#10) and domestication of oxen which powered the plow occurred in 3500 BCE. The invention of the wheel and axle (#8) with the domestication of horses which powered the cart and chariot was about 3500 BCE. The wood hulled sailboat (#9) with oars which allowed water travel even upstream and up wind originated around 3500 BCE. Finally, copper, tin and later, iron smelting (#11) began from 5000 BCE to 1800 BCE with bronze smelting beginning around 3500 BCE.

Written language spawned technology for several reasons.

First, history began with the written language. With history, data transferred reliably across generations with no loss of information. Written language allowed access of unaltered data to future generations. Written data allowed access to future populations far greater in number than the present population. Oral traditions preceded written language but predictably lost information between generations. Second, written language allowed transfer of data across great distance with no loss of information. Oral messengers which preceded written language created loss of data. Third, written languages allowed the creation of centers of learning where written material was collected, stored, and shared. Concentrated data allowed the creation of an educated class, specialized in data. Increased literacy results in increased inventions predictably throughout human history.

#3) PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TYPE ON PAPER (MACHINE WRITING)

Written language created the second dimension of data with oral language being the first. Written language created an explosion of inventions, the big bang of technology. The printing press was the third data dimension which is essentially mechanical or machine writing. Although somewhat slow to take hold than the big bang, the big surge has been more sustained. The big surge led to the expansion of the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. The printing press with metal movable type invented in China and popularized by Johann Gutenberg in 1440 in Mainz, Germany changed the world by data. Whereas only a few pages were hand written per day by manuscript, in comparison, 3600 copies printed per day by a Renaissance printer.

By 1500, over 1000 active printing presses existed in Western Europe and over 20 million printed texts .

By 1600, over 200 million texts printed. Christopher Columbus carried The Travels of Marco Polo on his voyage to the New World. The Gutenberg Bible was one of the first printed texts. Access by the public to the Bible made inexpensive by printing led to the Reformation. Martin Luther said, “Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one.”

The Reformation led to dramatic increases in literacy which led to further demand for printed reading material. The Renaissance and the printing press led to the publication of classical writings from Greece and Rome. The printing press ushered in the first era of mass communication. The printing press helped educate the common person and helped create the middle class. Then by the 1800s, steam rotary presses had replaced the Gutenberg hand operated presses. The printing press was the third ranked top 10 greatest invention.

Printing Press with movable type, top 10 inventions
Printing Press with movable type

#4) DOMESTICATION OF PLANTS

Around 10,000 BCE agriculture began. Before then, wild grains were harvested by hunter gatherer groups beginning around 100,000 BCE. True domestication of plants occurred in Mesopotamia with the founding 8 paleolithic crops: eikorn wheat, emmer wheat, peas, chick peas, flax, barley, lentils, and bitter vetch. These three cereals, flax, and four pulses were the first domesticated crops. Rye may also have been in this group of 8 but remains controversial. Rice was domesticated around 6200 BCE in China. Corn was domesticated in Mesoamerica around 4000 BCE. Domestication of plants and animals caused a transition from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agricultural lifestyle. Permanent homes and farms led to the development of villages and much later, cities.. Food production excesses allowed for trade and commerce.

In 2020, 15 plants provide 90% of the world’s plant caloric energy.

Rice, corn, and wheat provide 51% of the world’s calories. At least 55% of crops feed people and 36% feed livestock. As important the transition from hunter-gatherer to agriculture was in human existence, why is domestication of plants and animals not ranked higher, even #1? The answer for me is that domestication of plants and animals did not immediately lead to the development of civilizations, cities, or other important inventions.

Domestication of plants and animals occurred around 9000-10,000 BCE. However, it was not until 3500 BCE, 6000 years later, that civilizations began. 6000 years is more time than from the first civilization until now. During the 6000 years between 9500 BCE and 3500 BCE, no great inventions occurred after the domestication of plants or grazing animals. The domestication of horses in 3500 BCEoccurred with the wheel. Domestication of oxen occurred with the invention of the plow also at that time. Clearly, domestication of plants changed human lifestyle forever, but did not spawn much technology. Domestication of plants ranked #4 of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions.

#5) DOMESTICATION OF LIVESTOCK

Domestication of animals occurred before the domestication of plants. At first, dogs were domesticated animal beginning around 32,000 BCE in Belgium (Europe). Dog domestication however did not lead to a transition from hunter gatherer lifestyle. Domestication of pigs occurred around 11,000 BCE in Mesopotamia. Sheep domestication occurred around 10,000 BCE in Mesopotamia. Domestication of goats occurred around 9000 BCE. With domestication of cattle occurring around 8500 BCE in Turkey and Pakistan. Herding animal domestication allowed transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a pastoral lifestyle. Domesticated animals provided meat, milk, leather, sinew, oils, horn, bones, and clothing/shoes.

Land requirements change dramatically with the lifestyle transitions.

The land needs for hunter-gatherer societies range between 7-500 square miles/person or 150-1000 ha/person depending on the land productivity. The nomadic lifestyle and high land requirements of a hunter-gatherer culture made settlements and villages impractical or impossible. With domestication of plants and animals which occurred relatively simultaneously, the land requirements decreased to less than 1/100th of that with hunter gatherers (100 m2 /person for agriculture). With excess food production, populations increased and population density markedly increased. Villages and commerce were now possible. Domestication of plants was essential for the full domestication of animals. As mentioned above, over a third of crops feed livestock. Domestication of animals ranked #5 of the Top 10 of Greatest Inventions.

# 6) RADIO WAVE TECHNOLOGY

Perhaps the most controversial selection of the Top 10 is radio technology at number 6. After all, radio technology has not been around very long. Few lists of greatest inventions include radio technology. James Clerk Maxwell predicted radio waves in 1867. In 1887, Heinrich Hertz first generated radio waves in Germany. In 1894-5, Guglielmo Marconi developed the first practical radio transmitters. Is not television more important than radio? Television works by radio waves. Radio waves are the primary basis for wireless communication. Wired communication occurred first with the telegraph, than with the telephone. Wires create many obvious limitations.

Radio waves are how machines talk to other machines without wires.

Radio communication takes several forms: 1) home and car radio for news, weather, and music 2) television via radio waves 3) communication with and control of orbiting satellites by radio waves 4) cellular phones by radio waves 5) RADAR obviously by radio waves 6) microwave ovens work by a form of radio wave which molecules absorb waves creating heat energy 7) Bluetooth by radio waves. The WIRELESS ERA of technology is largely created with radio wave technology. The next technology era, predicted by many to be the internet of things (IoT) will only be possible with radio wave technology. Radio wave technology ranked 6th of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions.

#7) COMPUTER (DATA MACHINES, ELECTRONIC WRITING)

Invented in 1100 BCE, the abacus was the first device to aid calculations. In 1642, French Blaise Pascal created the first mechanical calculator using cogs and wheels. Then, Gottfried Leibniz designed a calculating machine called the Step Reckoner in 1671. Also a pioneer, Leibniz advocated use of the binary number system for calculating machines. In 1822, Charles Babbage invented the difference engine, a hand cranked analytical engine. The Babbage difference engine had the same 4 components as a modern computer: the reader (input), the mill (central processing unit) the store (memory) and printer (output). Punch cards provided the initial data input.

The creation of electricity in the late 1800s provided the needed computer power source. Invented in 1947, the transistor replaced the bulky vacuum tubes. Next, the integrated circuit appeared in 1958. In 1970, Intel created the first dynamic access memory (DRAM) chip. In 1970s, Alto was the first computer with a mouse and graphic user interface thanks to Douglas Englebart. By 1979, word processing begins with WordStar. When in 1990, Tim Berners-Lee creates hypertext markup language and the World Wide Web. Above all, computers are data machines: word processors, calculators, portals to the internet, inputs and outputs for email, libraries of books, video instruction. In addition, computers and smart devices, are the Bluetooth connection hubs to home and office electronic devices, machines, and appliances. The computer ranked 7th of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions.

Fire and Computer Inventions, top 10 inventions
Control of Fire #1 and the Compter #7

#8) WHEEL AND AXLE WITH HORSE DOMESTICATION

Surprisingly, no wheels exist in nature. Horse domestication and the invention of the wheel are co-inventions, occurring simultaneously at around 3500 BCE. The wheel began as the potter’s wheel around 3700 BCE in Sumer, Mesopotamia. The potter’s wheel spun moist clay in a circle allowing creation of perfectly circular vessells in a quick, reproducible fashion allowing for mass production. The horse domesticated around 3500 BCE in the Eurasian Steppes of the Ukraine in west central Asia. Many historians believe the wheel and axle originated only where a suitable beast of burden (horse) existed to power the mobile cart or chariot. Areas like North and South America did not originally have horses, so the Native Americans did not develop the wheel until after the European conquest.

The wheel and axle did more than transform land transportation.

The wheel and axle are one of the six simple machines used in all complex machines. Wheels as single (wheelbarrow), double (chariot), three, four (cart of wagon), six or more (train) make transportation faster. The potter’s wheel later led to the solid wood wheel, the spoked wheel, the iron ringed wheel, the rubber wheel, the pneumatic tire wheel, and the metal spoked, rimmed vulconized rubber pneumatic tire wheel. Wheeled devices move materials far better on roads.

The extensive Roman empire road system dramatically increased the utility of the wheel. Not surprisingly, with the collapse of the Roman empire and rise of the horse cultures of the Huns and Mongols during the Dark Ages, use of the wheel declined. Modern wheels are primarily land transportation devices. Wheelbarrows, bicycles, cars, trucks, and trains all depend on wheels for transport. Non transportation uses of the wheel include: potter’s wheel, water wheel for power, ferris wheel for entertainment, pizza cutter, daisy wheel can opener. The wheel ranked 8th of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions.

#9) SAILBOAT WITH WOOD HULL AND OARS

The sailboat, first built of reeds, not wood, appeared around 6000 BCE in Mesopotamia. Invented later, oars appeared around 5000 BCE in China. The wood hulled sailboat with both a square cloth sail and oars originated around 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Advances in metallurgy, particularly bronze smelting allowed the production of metal saws, nails, hammers and axes necessary to create the wooden planks required for hulled sea worthy vessels of transport. The combination of sails and oars allowed these boats to sail up current and up wind.

At least, three quarters of the world is covered with water. The sailboat allows access to and transport through the largest portion of our planet. The Phoenicians used the oared sailboat to set up trade routes throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. All major civilizations exist on large bodies of fresh water. The river cultures of Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), India (Indus), and China (Yellow) used sailboats for transport and commerce. The Age of Discovery occurred because of the compass, the sextant, and the caravel sailing ship. When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas using 2 caravels, the Pinta, and Nina ships he preferred to the Santa Maria, his third vessel. The sailboat ranked 9th of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions.

#10) PLOW WITH DOMESTICATION OF OXEN

Just like the wheel and axle linked to the domestication of the horse, the plow links with the domestication of oxen. The physical power of pulling a plow is only possible when beasts of burden muscle the plow. In fact, many historians believe that the wheel and axle only existed in cultures with horses to drive the wheeled vehicles. Similarly, the heavy resistance of the plow requires an appropriate beast of burden to power the machine.

The original plow was the ard or scratch plow. The ard is a scratch plow because the mechanism of this plow merely scratches a break in the surface of the planted land.. The moldboard plow, a later invention, not just cuts the surface but turns the land over. Unlike with the domesticaton of plants and animals, the invention of the plow in 3500 BCE was part of the big bang of technology leading to the first civilizations in Sumer, Mesopotamia, in the Nile valley of Egypt and the Indus river valley. The plow allowed a huge expansion of agriculture creating the birth of civilizations. The plow ranked 10th of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions.

In summary, four of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions are data related.