I’m sure that many people would say that the greatest invention ever is the internet or the computer. However, I might not put either one of them in the top ten.
But I know what my number one invention of all time would be: the wheel. Yes, the wheel. The caveman who first used the wheel made most of our later inventions possible, because almost every invention that you could possibly imagine is based, in some way, on the wheel.
Number two would probably have to be the hammer. Cavemen, again, discovered this tool, in the form of rocks that they used to break larger rocks, to make their tools, beds, tables, etc. And they were the first ones to put a handle on those rocks so they could be used more efficiently. So I vote for the hammer as the second invention in the top ten list.
Next, in the number three spot, I would choose the axe. With the axe, primitive man could move from the cave and begin living in the open. With the axe, they could then manage to get trees down so they could use the wood for their shelters and/or for warmth. And for those who are wondering, fire is not an invention; it is a discovery.
Number four would be the pen/pencil. With sticks from the fire, man could draw crude depictions of people, animals, trees, bodies of water, and even spirits and heavenly bodies. We have proof that man communicated in these ways, long before they had vehicles, telephones, or other means of communication.
Fifth,I would choose paper. With paper, man could carry large messages much further, and easier, than they could send messages on rocks or wooden slabs, or even with smoke signals. Therefore, paper was necessary to the man who needed to make sure messages were understood.
The sixth invention would be the discovery that sand, heated to a high enough temperature for a certain period of time, would become a transparent material: glass. With the development of glass, man could begin to make more modern conveniences: telescopes, mirrors, magnifiers (to help in starting fires), etc. So glass also needs to be considered one of the most important discoveries/inventions of all.
For number seven on my list, I would choose the shovel. With the shovel, man could make the land more accepting of plants and/or seeds. He could then have a place to grow the plants for the foods he ate, instead of having to go far afield to gather a variety. Also, with the shovel, he could dig a deeper hole in the earth, to get a constant supply of water, without having to make sure a stream was close by.
Number eight would also be a convenience: the plow. With the plow, he could more quickly prepare the land for the seeds or plants he wanted to grow. By the time he had the plow, of course, he had learned that groups of people are safer and more productive than scattered individuals, so more food is needed to supply their needs.
As number nine, I would choose the motor. With the development of a simple motor, man moved out of his primitive state and into modern times. With the motor, “the sky’s the limit” became a truism. With the motor, man could pull water from deep within the earth, travel distances that had been unheard of before, and even, eventually, soar across the heavens and into space. The motor runs our homes, our vehicles, our power plants, and our lives. Without the motor, we would again be living a primitive life.
As number ten, I would finally agree that the computer (and by association, the internet) has been an important invention. Because of the computer, it is now possible for people of all ages, nationalities, beliefs, educations, etc., worldwide, to have a common ground and communicate with each other easily. Because of the internet, I am writing this article. But remember, none of this would be possible without the invention I place in the number one spot: the wheel.
