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The world's 30 most important inventions ever

Inventions that changed the course of history
The sailboat: Ancient Mesopotamia, 6000 BC
The wheel: Unknown, 4000-3500 BC
The nail – Ancient Egypt, 3400 BC
Soap: Ancient Mesopotamia, 2800 BC
The abacus: Ancient Mesopotamia, 2700 BC
The compass: China, 206 BC
Paper: China, 105 BC
Gunpowder: China, 142
The mechanical clock: China, 725
The printing press: Holy Roman Empire, 1440
The thermometer: Republic of Venice, 1612
The modern steam engine: England, 1698
The refrigerator: Scotland, 1755
The computer: England, early 19th century
The electric telegraph: England, 1816
Photography: France, 1816
Modern anaesthesia: USA, 1842
Modern oil refining: Scotland, 1848
The internal combustion engine: France, 1859
The telephone: USA/Canada, 1876
The light bulb: USA, 1879
The car: Germany, 1886
The radio: Italy, 1895
The aeroplane: USA, 1903
Modern air conditioning: USA, 1902
Penicillin: England, 1928
The transistor: USA, 1947
The contraceptive pill: USA, 1950s
The cell phone: USA, 1973
The World Wide Web: Switzerland, 1989
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IanDagnall Computing/Alamy Stock Photo

Inventions that changed the course of history

Every once in a while, a revolutionary invention comes along with the power to advance humanity and change the course of history.

From the wheel to the World Wide Web, read on to discover what makes our list of the 30 most important innovations ever.

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Matt Bradfield

28 November 2024

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