We often wonder what would happen if we had the power to change the past. Would things improve if we changed them for the better? For example, what if firearms had not yet been invented? Would we have been able to coexist peacefully then?
1 compass
The invention of the magnetic compass dates back to China in the second century AD. First used to find one’s way in inclement weather and on the open sea, it later expanded to other regions of Asia and Europe. The study of magnetism gained popularity after the invention of the magnetic compass, and during the next decades, research in this area grew considerably, finally leading to our current comprehension of magnetism and its many applications.
2 Electric Light
Our lives changed significantly with the invention of the light bulb. The light bulb allowed people to travel at night, to travel and to work, lighting their homes, streets, schools and public places such as transportation.
Although the invention of the light bulb is often attributed to Thomas Edison, he was not the only one who worked to develop this revolutionary technology. The electric arc lamp, developed by Humphry Davy in 1802, was the first electric light. The lamps were improved by Edison, who used tungsten filaments to increase their life span to 1,200 hours.
3 Steel
The iron and steel trade radically changed history. It improved the quality of people’s lives by stimulating industrial and manufacturing growth, expanding employment opportunities and creating more jobs.
The iron industry has a long history: iron deposits in these formations, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen, date back 3 700 to 1 800 million years.
4 Printing Press
The Chinese were the first to invent printing, at the end of the second century A.D., and they already had the three necessary ingredients for printing: paper and the know-how to make it, ink and surfaces for engraved texts.
The invention of printing fundamentally changed the course of human history. It has contributed to raising the standard of living of people, spreading knowledge and culture, and strengthening cultural awareness. It has also improved academic performance and creativity, while promoting science and technology.
5 Antibiotics
The history of antibiotics dates back to ancient and modern times. The ancient Greeks and Indians used molds and other plants to treat infections. The discovery of penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928 was the most important discovery in modern history.
Antibiotics have had a major impact on history. A single disease could kill hundreds or even millions of people before it was discovered. However, thanks to the development of antibiotics, healthcare professionals can now treat a range of infectious diseases that were once fatal.
6 Transistors
Transistors are the most important active components in almost all modern devices. Therefore, many believe that the transistor is one of the greatest innovations of the 20th century.
The transistor’s past can be described as rich in inventions and innovations. Three American scientists, John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley, developed the first working transistor at Bell Laboratories in 1947. The electron tube was essentially replaced by the transistor.
7 money
Money has been around for almost 4,000 years and has taken many different forms over time. Metals such as gold, silver and copper have been used as currency since 2000 BC. In 600 BC, China transitioned from using metal coins to paper money.
Coins had a significant impact on events. They promoted the development of trade and facilitated commercial transactions.
8 steam engine
The « wind engine, » described by Heron of Alexandria in Roman Egypt in the 1st century AD, is the first crude steam engine mentioned in history. The cylinder and piston concept that dominated steam engine design until the early 20th century was first successfully applied to a commercial engine by Thomas Newcomen in 1712 with his atmospheric engine.
History has been profoundly influenced by the steam engine. Pumping stations, steam engines, and ships all used steam engines. Because of their widespread use to drive machinery in factories and mills, steam engines were considered important to the Industrial Revolution.
9 magnifying glasses
Magnifying glasses have changed history in many ways. They serve various purposes and are useful for many people. Their main purpose is to magnify objects that are too small to see with the naked eye.
It is believed that the English philosopher Roger Bacon, who lived between 1220 and 1292, developed the first magnifying glass for scientific purposes in the 13th century. One of the most common optical instruments, the magnifying glass has existed for thousands of years and was first used by the ancient Egyptians.
