Some weeks ago in a letter to the editor I noted that the invention of the steam engine was the greatest, world changing evolution.
Prior to it, man only had horse-power or man-power. The steam engine provided unlimited power. (Note: The Manhasset Times editor changed my article title to: “British Empire offers lessons for our leaders” in the Aug. 23 issue).
I have been challenged as to whether the steam engine was indeed the “greatest” so I decided to look back at some of the other possible “greatest” events. Here is my list.
Agriculture (farming): Before 10,000 B.C., a gradual process.
Dog domestication: 10,000 B.C., goats and sheep 8000 B.C.
The wheel: First evidence 3,500 B.C., origin unknown.
Crop Irrigation: 3,000 B.C. on a commercial scale.
Horse domestication: 4000 B.C. Horses big enough to ride 2000 B.C.
Writing: 3,000 B.C. in Sumer (Iraq).
Democracy: 500 B.C. in Greece.
Gunpowder and cannons: In China 1,000 A.D.
Magnetic compass: In China 1088 A.D.
Printing press: 1450 A.D.
Black death plague: 1400 A.D. one quarter population of Europe died.
Sir Isaac Newton: 1650 A.D. crucial advancement in science
Steam engine: Demonstrated 1712 A.D.
Railroads: 1750 A.D.
Internal combustion engine: Automobiles 1890 A.D.
Airplanes: 1903 the Wright brothers.
Transistors/Integrated Circuit: 1958 A.D. basis of all electronic devices.
From this list I would select the steam engine, the printing press, and writing as the top three.
I chose to limit my list to the above 17 entries as the greatest.
Even if we stop at the integrated circuit there are an untold number of items that could be included. Items such as the light bulb, electric generation and distribution, the telegraph, radio, refrigerator, sound recording, etc.
Theodore Theodorsen
Manhasset
