# The most influencial INVENTION in history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600 "2003-07-06T18:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/21 "2003-07-06T23:13:43Z")
Good luck getting that printing press together without making any use of fire. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/22 "2003-07-06T23:23:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > \*\*Good luck getting that printing press together without making any use of fire. \*\* Stone tools to cut and shape the wood, carve the letters out of bone, dry your printing material in the sun. Ink can be made from vegetable dyes. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/23 "2003-07-06T23:23:37Z")
Along the lines of the printing press, I would say the written word is mankind’s greatest invention. Sort of a cop-out, I know, but hey… ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/24 "2003-07-06T23:27:50Z")
Two more candidates: 1. The assembly line. 2. Beer. You don’t really think agriculture was invented so people would have grain handy to make bread, do you? ---
**Author:** ![ArcticCircle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@ArcticCircle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArcticCircle)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/25 "2003-07-06T23:39:13Z")
The invention of the “base 10”arabic numerical system. This invention gave us the numerals we have today and eventually led to the Arabic invention of the “zero.” This allowed astronomical calculations to be made much easier than with Roman numerals, not to mention changing the face of education forever afterwards.\_ An interesting bit of trivia: Up until the end of the 18th century, Japan contibuted the least to mathematical development in the world. Why? Because they had a unique chartacter for each mathematical number. Imagine trying to remember each character to count up to 1,000,000. Impossible! ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/26 "2003-07-06T23:51:21Z")
The edged tool- aka Acheulian hand axe - replacing sharp teeth and claws… predating the use of fire by hundreds of thousands of years, and not even invented by humans but our ancestors. * * * SF worldbuilding at [http://www.orionsarm.com/main.html](http://www.orionsarm.com/main.html) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/27 "2003-07-06T23:55:19Z")
I’ll go with language. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/28 "2003-07-07T00:09:04Z")
But a lot of these things are “pick-up” inventions, aren’t they? Basically, found scattered on the ground? The wheel. The axle is the real invention. The axe. Fire. Language. And even beer. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/29 "2003-07-07T00:21:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArcticCircle \* > \*\*The invention of the “base 10”arabic numerical system. > > This invention gave us the numerals we have today and eventually led to the Arabic invention of the “zero.” This allowed astronomical calculations to be made much easier than with Roman numerals, not to mention changing the face of education forever afterwards.\_ > > An interesting bit of trivia: Up until the end of the 18th century, Japan contibuted the least to mathematical development in the world. Why? Because they had a unique chartacter for each mathematical number. Imagine trying to remember each character to count up to 1,000,000. Impossible! \*\* Welcome to board, **ArticCircle** …you live in my town, and I can thus only speculate that your user name is wishful thinking about this time of year? 😛 There’s another thread on the board asking us to give our opinion on the most influential animal of all time. I will add to **Zenster’s** and **E-Sabbath** submission of **Fire** : the acceptance of animals into our life, i.e. the taming of dogs. It’s not an invention, of course, but it changed the world nonetheless. Have I missed this, or has no-one mentioned the railroads? Many folks died while laying down those lines. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Fescue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@Hank\_Fescue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Fescue)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/30 "2003-07-07T00:26:36Z")
The condom. ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/31 "2003-07-07T00:44:38Z")
Writing or currency probably. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/32 "2003-07-07T00:48:08Z")
Somebody go get James Burke, quick. We need to determine here if we’re going to be looking at a single specific invention, or at the inventions that made that one possible. Terry Pratchett wrote a few lines that can be usefully considered here. All you need is an axe and a way to make fire. That can get you a forge, and with a forge you can make simple tools, and with those you can make complex tools, and with those… ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/33 "2003-07-07T00:52:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > \*\*Somebody go get James Burke, quick. > > We need to determine here if we’re going to be looking at a single specific invention, or at the inventions that made that one possible. > > Terry Pratchett wrote a few lines that can be usefully considered here. All you need is an axe and a way to make fire. That can get you a forge, and with a forge you can make simple tools, and with those you can make complex tools, and with those… \*\* Nobody’s disputing your opinion. It’s just that, an opinion. So, after three posts now, I think we’re pretty clear that you think fire is the most important invention, even though we technically didn’t invent fire, we just found a way to make it. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/34 "2003-07-07T01:01:52Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned clothing yet. Along with fire, clothing was responsible for mankind’s ability to exploit extreme environments, and provided a compelling reason to actively harvest the skin of the leopard, our natural enemy. Clothing also served as a medium for extensive personal adornment and class distinction, and the development of diverse textiles promoted trade both as utilitarian commodities and as luxury items. Although not quite as universally essential as the use of fire or bladed tools, clothing has been worn since the Stone Age in both the Old and New Worlds, and has been far more widespread than the printing press or the wheel. The accepted use of clothing in contemporary life also allows us to choose in advance whether to view someone naked, which I think most people would agree is a good thing. And without the sophisticated fabrics that the clothing industry has produced over the centuries, Muppets as we know them would have never evolved. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/35 "2003-07-07T01:07:14Z")
2trew - a James Burke fan ? all right !!! And count me as someone who classifies FIRE as a human invention. I believe **Scientific American** had an entire article on what they considered the #3 invention (they had classified **fire and the wheel** as \*\*1 & 2 \*\*respectively). They chose the **bow and arrow** for **#3**. (Unless someone wants to debate this should be TWO inventions). Their reasoning was that the bow and arrow was a tool for a reliable food supply AND a VERY effective method for defense (and offense for that matter). **Personally** , I’d side with Spevined and preidebt and say the **plow** should be **#3**. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/36 "2003-07-07T01:19:57Z")
As fire exists in nature, humans _discovered_ fire. Humans did not _invent_ it. Torches, matches, candles, etc. are inventions. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/37 "2003-07-07T01:24:12Z")
I dunno. If fire counts, then so should language. And language wins hands down as most important. It’s not even close. Language makes cooperation possible, and without cooperation, as a species we’re pretty much screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/38 "2003-07-07T01:34:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > \*\*Two more candidates: > > 1. The assembly line. > > 2. Beer. You don’t really think agriculture was invented so people would have grain handy to make bread, do you? \*\* Not beer Refridgerators , to keep the beer cold Declan ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/39 "2003-07-07T01:37:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bearflag70 \* > As fire exists in nature, humans _discovered_ fire. Humans did not _invent_ it. Torches, matches, candles, etc. are inventions. No one in their right mind is saying that humans _invented_ fire. I’m talking about the ability to make fire. The fire drill and use of flints changed the entire course of human existence. Watch the movie, **Quest for Fire** sometime. Before the ability to make fire came along, it required real _ostiones_ to approach a burning forest or plain in order to extract some lit material. I’ll restate how it is quite possible that without fire, humanity might never have survived. Fire came before domestication of animals or agriculture. Even knapped flints and spears did not match the survival benefits of having fire. People were able to be productive at night, sterilize semi-rotted food prior to consumption, cook otherwise indigestible roots and nuts, temper wood spears and arrow shafts, ward off wild animals and most especially avoid **freezing to death** during winter. Being able to summon a profoundly life-giving force using such easily obtained components as a chunk of hardwood, a shaft, some rawhide lace, a bit of tinder and a bowed piece of wood was nothing short of miraculous. Fire may not be an invention, but the making of it most certainly is. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600/40 "2003-07-07T02:09:26Z")
**A new device, method, or process developed from study and experimentation.** Definition of “invention.” Method and process - so the discovery of fire certainly qualifies, one must think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-influencial-invention-in-history/186600.md?page=3)