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Hi, welcome to our History of Inventions
link. History, created the present, so lets take
a look at a brief history of innovation development so that we can
understand how the exciting innovative world of today emerged more
clearly.
Prehistoric Times
The first inventions appeared in the Paleolithic
Period about 2 ½ million years ago. Humanity was already inventing
new ways to do things as they gradually discovered and understood
the world around them. These people discovered that they could maxi
axes, chisels, and tools by chipping bone, flint, horn, ivory and
stones into desired shapers. One of the earlier inventions was the Boe and
arrow, which helped hunters to catch wild animals more efficiently.
As time progressed, people understood
things more; they worked together and fought among themselves, but
eventually without working together in some way ideas would have
never tuned into meaningful products, or services. For instance,
the development of agriculture in Paleolithic times meant that people
no longer had to move form place to place in search for food. However,
without working together food, water, shelter, and survival would
not exist easily.
Farmers gradually began to settle in villages,
which became the ancestors of the first cities. As time progressed,
textiles and newer ideas emerged that enabled, thread, plant fibers,
and weaving to exist. As a result, clothing became more popular,
and people were gradually better fit to survive harsh weather conditions.
The focus of innovation in this period of time was mostly survival
oriented idea creations.
The wheel was one of the first practical
inventions and that emerged around 3500 B.C. This made work and carrying
loads much easier. The wheel, spurred other inventions such as the
idea for wagons that made transportation possible, and more efficient.
Can you imagine what our society would have been like if people never
learned how to work together peacefully? I know that without uniting
together, inventions, discoveries, and human progression would have
been much slower. As we can see history is teaching us that we need
to unite together to make great things happen.
The
First Civilization
Developed between about 3500 and 3100
B.C. in river valleys-between the Tigris and Eupharates rivers
of Mesopotamia and tin the Nile Vally of
Egypt. The development of these civilizations existed in near river
valleys. These people invented river valleys, canals, dikes, and
ditches to help the agricultural process.
The Sumerians, who lived in southern Mesopotamia,
developed the first system of writing. Before, this time people mostly
relied on memory to share knowledge. Writing enabled history to exist,
mailing of important letters and mass communication to occur. The
ideas and knowledge of the first civilizations contributed to the
gradual growth of future generations. If people did not understand
a common language, or system of writing can you imaging how much longer
it would have taken for society of progress?
Ancient Greece
The great civilization
of Greece developed around 500 B.C. The Greeks are
well know for the achievements in the arts,
philosophy, and sciences. The Greeks invented the first cylinder, the
screw, and the screw press. The screw press, was
a device that was used to squeeze the juice out of the fruits.
China
Is well known for their
inventions, they invented, the magnetic compass,
paper, and movable type. Most of these inventions carried over to Europe,
and influenced the way of life there.
The Middle Ages
Lasted from A.D. 400’s through 1400’s.
Amazing changes occurred throughout this time period. Inventions
in agriculture, transportation, and warfare were common. The rigid
horse collar helped advance farming and land transportation. This
simple invention allowed horses to pull heavier loads, without the
constriction of breathing. The Lateen Sail invention made sailing
easier in all weather conditions, because it enabled the sails to
pick up the wind much easier that the traditional square sails. The
sternpost rutter appeared at this time,
and this invention made it much easier to steer large ships without
the needed manpower to row the oars. The stirrup came from china
and India, but it enabled soldiers to fight better on horseback now
that they had a saddle and stirrup. As a result, knights often fought
on horses.
The
Renaissance
Began around 1300 and lasted to around
the 1600’s. This was a period of cultural awakening in Europe.
During this time period gunpowder and printing were invented, and
these two inventions were perhaps the most important developments
in this time era. Gunpowder changed the ways war was fought; as a
result Knights were replaced by foot soldiers.
Printing is a great example of innovation.
Ink, movable type, paper, and the press were invented long before
the mid-1400’s. However the creatively of one inventor named Gutenberge-
combined these separate inventions in order to produce printing.
This became the first means of mass communication. This invention
put more knowledge in the hands of more people faster, and cheaper
than ever before. Printing, helped to make modern democracies to
develop faster, since government stability relied on well-informed
citizens to participate in government affairs.
The
Age of Reason
This was a period of great intellectual activity. It began around
the 1600’s and lasted until the late 1700’s. Science
greatly contributed to inventions in this time period. Galileo, invented
instruments that were used to draw and measure angles. Other scientists,
such as Sir Issac Newton, published the laws of motion. Newton inventions contributed to the development of Jet propulsion
engines and rocket engines that began to develop in the 1900’s. The telescope, vacuum pump, the thermometer,
the microscope, the barometer were also two other important scientific
inventions in this time period.
New machines were also invented that contributed
to the Agricultural Revolution. Interests in magical beliefs were
common, the study of astrology, astronomy, and alchemy were also
very popular, and the development of modern anatomy began to emerge
in this time period. As new ideas emerged conflict over different
ideologies, and theories sometimes existed. However, by working with
each other and considering new ideas remarkable scientific discoveries
and inventions took place.
The
Industrial Revolution
Began in the United
Kingdom during the 1700’s, and by the mid 1800’s it
spread throughout Western
Europe and
the United
States. The steam engine developed by James Watt, improved transportation.
In 1787, John Fitch demonstrated the first workable steamboat
in the United States. Richard Trevithick,
an English engineer invented the first steam locomotive in 1804.Once
the steam engine become possible, people thought of ways to improve
it and sure enough the steam turbine was another successful invention
that made transportation much faster and more efficient Technology
in the 1820’s was growing rapidly, and the Europeans were
very surprised over how fast America was growing.
Self-taught amateurs scientists contributed
to most of the technological developments in the 19 th century.
Their zeal and self-assurance led them to create inventions that
trained European scientists did not even attempt. The faith of these
self-educated inventors gave American boundless faith in the technology
potential of the average citizen. Ben Franklin was one of these mostly
self-educated men who became famous for his lighting rod invention
and his scientific discoveries. It is clear, that zeal, determination,
curiosity and the passion for learning enabled the common person
to invent great things that transformed the lives of so many in many
magnificent ways.
Perhaps one of the greatest patents in
the Industrial Revolution at this time was Samuel .B. Morse demonstration
of the practicality of the telegraph. In addition, he did not quit
there he went on and devised a workable code for sending messages.
The industrial revolution brought about numerous inventions, in farming,
crop rotation, electromagnetic induction, and farming revolutions.
However, for a detailed understanding of it all the progressions
that occurred during this time period you need to look into all the
historical research.
The
Late 1800’s
The desired to improve existing inventions
was the motivation in this time era. Several inventors tried to develop
an engine that was more efficient that the steam engine. The first
practical internal combustion engines engine was invented, the first
typewriter, and of course Alexander Graham Bell patented the first
telephone. The German Physicist Wilhelm C. Roentgen discovered X-
Rays. Thomas Edison, another self-educated person invented a vote
recorder, incandescent light, a mimeograph machine, a motion-picture
camera and projector, and the phonograph. Thomas Edison, had little
formal education, and this teacher did not think well of him because
he asked too many questions. However, his mother inspired him to
learn, and Edison often hired scientists and technicians to assist
him in putting his own ideas into practice.
The
Early and Middle 1900’s
The airplane, the automobile, the electric-self
starter, the hydraulic four –wheel brake system, the jet engine
in air-planes, the vacuum tube, the radio, the television, the, the
transistor, the first plastics, synthetic chemical fertilizers to
enrich soil, the mainframe computer, nuclear energy the solar cell
were just some of the inventions that occurred in the early and middle
1900’s in America. Many of these inventions, required specialized
skill, and the cooperation of scientists, business-men, investors,
and philanthropists who willing shared there money to inspire the
ongoing technological innovation that desperately needed money for
research before these ideas were marketable enough to transform the
lives of people and the culture we live in.
The 20th and
21 century inventions –
\The past sixty years has been a revolutionary
time in innovative development. This is largely due to the fact that
research is a combined effort. Many people from a wide array of disciplines
formed together to create research teams. As each member contributed
his or her specialized knowledge, our country began to transform
in rapid ways.
In the past sixty years television sets
hit the market, the first electric guitar, the solar battery 1954,
the polio vaccine in 1954, the skateboard (late 1950’s) Carbon
Dating- 1955, the hovercraft 1956, the V.C.R 1956,
communication satellites 1958, the Barbie doll 1959, laser 1960,
the birth control pill 1960, Led screens 1962, the artificial heart
(left ventricle) 1966, the first snowboards late 1960’s, the
microprocessor 1971, the electric pocket calculator, 1972, fiber
optics 1975, the supercomputer 1976, the compact disk 1979, the first
efficient BMX bicycles mid-1970’s, video game systems (mid 1970’s),
the walkman 1978, the walkman late 1970’s, the first roller
blades 1983/84, the first talking video games, hologram images, the
internet, the magnetic boat, beepers, cell-phones, video-phones,
stem cell research, regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, and thousands
of other products, services, and businesses opened up that greatly
added to the standard of living and quality of life that our country
has to offer.
Most of these inventions were developed
in America, as we can see history is a discovery process, and growth
in the economy and in life depends on the inventors of today, and
the helpers of tomorrow; who are willing to lend a hand and take
a risk to help someone create ideas that could transform the world
that we currently life in today.
Chronology of historical inventions that
still impact our lives today
1250-the Magnifying glass 1800-the
electric battery
1454- Printing Press 1810-
Food Preservation
1504-Pocket watch 1804-
Steam Locomotive
1590-the compound microscope 1821-Electric
motor
1593-the Telescope 1837-Telegraph
1642-Adding machines 1839-Bicycle
1752-The lightning Rod 1860-Gas
Engine
1775-Submarine 1866-Paper
(wood pulp)
1780-the steel pen 1876-Telephone
CONCLUSION
As we can see, curiosity, motivation,
discoveries, and innovations transformed the ways we live. Ideas,
businesses, and innovation contributed greatly to our standard of
living, and improved the lives of us all. Some inventions created
new jobs, other inventions made people millionaires, and some of
these millionaires opened up charity foundations with their money
or they used their money for various socially focused projects.
Inventions have the potential to transform
our lives, to make individual citizens very rich, and with that money
more disposable income exists, and this contributed to economic expansion.
However, the greatest invention in history is the selfless heart,
the human attribute that is willing to care for others, to understand
others, and to reach out with infinite generosity by serving others
especially those who are less fortunate that your Self.
In addition to creating new inventions,
we need to unite as one world and create a humanity transformation-
so that peace, equality, safety, and harmonious relationships exist
between all men, women, children, and nations. This will be the ultimate
test in humanity, the will to make this utopian idea a reality for
all rather than the select few. Until this day happens, all of our
inventions, relationships, money, status, and material possessions
really don’t matter too much do they; when terrorist threats,
endless conflicts and wars continue to occur.
It’s great to enjoy life. However,
two billion people live on less that two dollars a day, and fifteen
children die of malnutrition every 30 seconds; it’s
time for everyone to become more selfless don’ t you think.
Perhaps one day, no children will die ever thirty seconds; if more
people start contributing.
WE all live in a world with conflict,
wars, and terrorist threats –it is obvious that humanity is
not currently 100 percent psychologically healthy, so rather than
an innovative technological revolution. I
hope to see a humanity transformation that primary concern is the
peaceful relationships we have with ourselves, our family, friends,
neighbors, community, and all co-workers. Perhaps when all citizens of the world
feel inner peace-world peace will exist.
With terrorism, wars, conflict, bombing,
biological warfare, and the various uncertainties in life. Inner-peace is not as easy to develop.
However, it could just me the most important goal that we can all
strive for. Until everyone develop inner-peace – I
don’t know if world peace will be possible.
It’s important to note that various
psychological studies have indicated that we often take out our own
negative feeling on others; as a result many people are abused all
around the world. Hopefully,
education and awareness-will help people to learn how to control
their emotions; so that other people will not have to deal with verbal
or physical abuse in the future. ( Hitler was abused –and I’m
sure it had something to do with how he treated people when he was
in power – Psychohistory
research Journals)
Thankfully, we live in a dynamic and thoughtful
world. As a result many people contribute to a more healthy and peaceful
world; but one day perhaps everyone will contribute until healthy
psycho-biologically supportive environmental conditions exist for
all living people, not just some.
Today in the 21st century not
everyone has healthy psychobiological supportive environmental conditions,
especially in the Projects in American cities, and in many underdeveloped
countries. Perhaps my dream of seeing healthy living environment
for everyone will one day be possible. These environments will have
basic food, shelter, clothing, and caring supportive loving attention
-so that all children grow up feeling loved, and cared for-not just
some. This is so important to me, because I’ve read some social
psychology research that demonstrate how environmental factors destroy
physiological and psychological health; and I personally experienced
what it is like.
To conclude, hopefully the world will
become peaceful everywhere one day –and perhaps that is the
greatest challenge for us all individually –and collectively
as one planet. When accomplished perhaps this will be the greatest
innovation to take place in history…..
Thank you for reading. J
References-
Encarta encyclopedia
Britannica Encyclopedia
Terry S. Reynolds, Ph.D. Professor Of
History and Chair, Department OF Social Sciences
Sciences, Michigan Technological Univeristy
Professor Newell, History Professor Ramapo College
Professor Elovitz, Psychohistory Professor Ramapo College
Dr. Wayne Dyer, Psychological Author
Scientific America Magazine
Discovery Magazine
Life Extension Foundation Magazine
Time Magazine
World Health Organization, 1998 executive
summary, World Health Report
Various other works history textbooks,
psychology text books, and Yoga
Books
Several Journal Articles in anthropology,
social sciences, and psychology
Darrell Fertakos |
