What’s the most impactful invention from your state? Before we answer that question, lets look at some of history’s most impactful inventions. When asked about the most impactful invention, many archeologists choose agriculture. Farming generated a more stable food supply which permitted populations to grow. While most people worked the land the excess food allowed some to specialize in other fields. These specialists created more complex art, music, and science – or what we refer to as culture.
All right, it’s hard to top that, but what about the next layer? One invention that comes to mind is the wheel. Wheels led to carts, which allowed movement of more and heavier goods over longer distances. Another aspect of the wheel had a great impact on culture. The potter’s wheel led to the creation of complex pottery. In fact, pottery and shards of pottery are one of the primary artifacts remaining from ancient civilizations.
The next contender might be writing. Ignoring the content of this blog, it’s hard to argue with the value of writing. Invented 5,000 years ago by the Sumerian city state civilization as method to track sales, writing is nearly as old the wheel. Beyond its commercial benefits, writing also allowed for more efficient transfer of knowledge. Before writing knowledge was passed down person to person by word of mouth. Anyone who’s played the children’s game of telephone knows how inefficient that can be.
How about the US?
Unfortunately, the United States came onto the scene a bit too late for all of these. To be fair, the US has made numerous contributions to agriculture, e.g., hybrid seeds and genetically modified plants, as well as writing, typewriters and computers. The building of the Erie canal inspired a new and better wheelbarrow. Thinking about more modern innovations brings us to our featured map, courtesy of MidAmerica Nazerene University.
In all honesty, many of these inventions had negative impacts or at best cut both ways. The cotton gin did allow for more efficient processing of cotton, but it also strengthened slavery’s hold on the south. On the lighter side, few people outside of city councils are lining up to cheer the invention of the parking meter. Which is your favorite?
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to Pay the Bills: The books in the Misaligned Series include several cutting edge technologies like the nuclear fusion stellarator in book 3 The Darkest Day, but none feature truly new inventions. How does the theoretical physics of nuclear fusion fit into a Young Adult fantasy series about Welsh mythology? Learn more by reading a summary of the series here and find links to purchase books here.