Top 5 most important inventions of the last 5000 years?

[SOONER44EVER]

My wife has to write a paper on what she thinks are the top 5 most important inventions of the past 5000 years. Any ideas?
Here are a few I came up with:

Electricity.
Automobile.
Printing press.
Computer.
Beer. :D

[Mjcpr]

What she thinks?

1) Penis pump

[Tiptonsooner]

refrigeration

[SOONER44EVER]

What she thinks?

1) Penis pump
I didn't get one. They were out of XL pumps. :D

[Tiptonsooner]

Bob Stoops

[GDC]

vaccines and antibiotics

[Rogue]

5000 years? I'm gonna go with "influential" versus "important"

-Fire
-Writing
-Gunpowder
-Gasoline Combustion
-Electricity

[SOONER44EVER]

5000 years? I'm gonna go with "influential" versus "important"

-Fire
-Writing
-Gunpowder
-Gasoline Combustion
-Electricity
Her professor said fire and the wheel are older than 5000 years.

[BlondeSoonerGirl]

What she thinks?

1) Penis pump

This is a little gold clod right here, people...

[Vaevictis]

Agriculture and the written word are, without a doubt, the most important inventions in our history. I don't know if they're within the last 5000 years, but without them, we are nowhere.

Mathematics -- especially trigonometry, calculus and probability theory -- follows immediately after, followed by the scientific method.

Everything else we have today follows from those four. As for the fifth, I don't have one. Nothing else that comes to mind right now comes even close to those four.

[afs]

the wheel

written language

[King Crimson]

no one "invented" fire.


gutenburg press/movable type.
late night drunken chile verde burritos

[Vaevictis]

no one "invented" fire.

I'm pretty sure that the implication is that someone invented the idea of *using* fire instead of running away from it in terror like the rest of the animal kingdom :p

[King Crimson]

I'm pretty sure that the implication is that someone invented the idea of *using* fire instead of running away from it in terror like the rest of the animal kingdom :p

fair enough: i also saw that Sooner44 has printing press....so i'm whiffing except for chile verde burritos.

[Vaevictis]

I agree that the printing press is high up there, and of those mentioned, I would put it closest to the four I mentioned (given the last 5000 years).

Pathology is important too, but because it *needs* the scientific method and the printing press, it necessarily gets bumped. Same goes for electricity. (The reason I say it "needs" the printing press is because in order for it to be effective, lots of people need to know about it -- and you need the press to have disseminated the information in the first place)

Gunpowder is a no-go. Important, yes, but it's not something that entire civilizations are based upon.

Another something I would nominate is possibly "peer review", but I might lump that in with the scientific method.

[GDC]

No one said computers.

[Vaevictis]

No one said computers.

The OP did.

[GDC]

okay

[walkoffsooner]

I think the monitor was far more important than the computer:D Just kidding democracy way of life. No dictators, kings, ect

[Vaevictis]

No one said computers.

Also, IMO, I'd put the transistor above computers by far. Babbage made a computer in the 1800's that was not particularly useful; it took the transistor to make them so.

I might actually put the transistor up there as #5, actually, although I think I would still give it to the printing press by a hair.

[Sooner24]

The transistor.

[Sooner24]

Also, IMO, I'd put the transistor above computers by far. Babbage made a computer in the 1800's that was not particularly useful; it took the transistor to make them so.

I might actually put the transistor up there as #5, actually, although I think I would still give it to the printing press by a hair.


I didn't see you beat me to it. :O

I would have the transistor higher then 5.

[King Crimson]

marconi's radio tube. enabled the whole idea of distance communication.

[Sooner24]

Macaroni's invention gave us Olive Garden. :D

[Vaevictis]

I would have the transistor higher then 5.

Higher than agriculture, the written word, mathematics and the scientific method? How do you justify that?

[Al Gore]

Agriculture and the written word are, without a doubt, the most important inventions in our history. I don't know if they're within the last 5000 years, but without them, we are nowhere.

Mathematics -- especially trigonometry, calculus and probability theory -- follows immediately after, followed by the scientific method.

Everything else we have today follows from those four. As for the fifth, I don't have one. Nothing else that comes to mind right now comes even close to those four.Having studied enough engineering for 8 years that I have letters after my name, bump down mathematics. Fake boobs and bikini waxes are more important.

[Sooner24]

I guess I don't consider agriculture, the written word inventions as such.

[Sooner24]

As far as it goes I would say #1 is toilet paper. :D

[Tailwind]

Disposable ******.

[Al Gore]

Disposable ******.I would spek you but I am spekkerless......:D

[Sooner24]

:eddie:

[Sooner24]

I would spek you but I am peckerless......:D :eek:

[Al Gore]

:eek::eek:

[Sooner24]

I'll see your :eek: and raise you a :norm:

[jkjsooner]

Agriculture and the written word are, without a doubt, the most important inventions in our history. I don't know if they're within the last 5000 years, but without them, we are nowhere.

Mathematics -- especially trigonometry, calculus and probability theory -- follows immediately after, followed by the scientific method.

Everything else we have today follows from those four. As for the fifth, I don't have one. Nothing else that comes to mind right now comes even close to those four.

Mathematics is more of a discovery than an invention, IMHO.

[Rogue]

I guess I don't consider agriculture, the written word inventions as such.

I do. Not inventions as an item that you make and get a patent on, but something that has to be created or developed and, without creation/development would not come to exist on its own.

Where is Homey on this thread?

[Beano's Fourth Chin]

Gravity.

[proud gonzo]

printing press was important but as important (or possibly more) is the telegraph. made communication independent from transportation.

indoor plumbing
refrigeration

[Vaevictis]

Mathematics is more of a discovery than an invention, IMHO.

I can see that point of view, even if I disagree with it. Mathematics is a language we use to represent, among other things, some physical phenomena. It's a set of tools, like a hammer or saw; some tools are discoveries (ie, the fact that you can use a rock to smash something), and some are inventions (ie, a claw hammer).

Certain parts of mathematics are discoveries, and certain parts are inventions. On the whole, though, I'd call it an invention simply because somebody (or a group of somebodies) came up with a way to symbolically represent and manipulate math. That, at least, is an invention.

[proud gonzo]

teflon

silly putty

fart machines

fake snow

mongoose

pez

bowties

lava lamps

8-tracks

salt

smelting

cotton candy

taxidermy

feather boas

hippies

gumballs

[Tailwind]

You left out Scrunchies. :D

[Tailwind]

And peanut butter

[olevetonahill]

printing press was important but as important (or possibly more) is the telegraph. made communication independent from transportation.

indoor plumbing
refrigeration
Indoor plumbing caused the Wild horse BBQ place to catch fire . Not Good:mad:
My vote goes to
























Hook 'em

[Tailwind]

:eek:

[Sooner24]

I do. Not inventions as an item that you make and get a patent on, but something that has to be created or developed and, without creation/development would not come to exist on its own.

Where is Homey on this thread?


So you are saying someone or someones invented agriculture? And if you are going to count agriculture then I am betting it goes back farther then 5000 years.

[Vaevictis]

So you are saying someone or someones invented agriculture? And if you are going to count agriculture then I am betting it goes back farther then 5000 years.

Dude, somebody, somewhere, at some point, had to go: "Gee, maybe if I take these little things ... gee, I'll name them 'seeds' ... and I put them in the ground and give them water, they'll grow into something I can eat!"

Somebody else had to go, "Gee, maybe if I feed that animal there and protect it from predators, and make sure it has babies, I can secure for myself a reliable source of food."

Agriculture is definately invented.

After looking it up, of course, it turns out it's not in the last 5k years or so; more like 10k-15k.

[Vaevictis]

It looks like writing may be out also, as it seems to have been invented ~5500 years ago.

In light of such:

1. Mathematics
2. Scientific Method
3/4. Printing Press and Transistor
5. Internal combustion engine

(my #5 is always kind of weak, I can see replacing it with pathology, refrigeration, modern farming techniques (crop rotation, etc), electricity (as a method for transferring and storing energy), and others).

[sooneron]

I know my singlehood days would vote for da rubbahs.

[Sooner24]

Dude, somebody, somewhere, at some point, had to go: "Gee, maybe if I take these little things ... gee, I'll name them 'seeds' ... and I put them in the ground and give them water, they'll grow into something I can eat!"

Somebody else had to go, "Gee, maybe if I feed that animal there and protect it from predators, and make sure it has babies, I can secure for myself a reliable source of food."

Agriculture is definately invented.

After looking it up, of course, it turns out it's not in the last 5k years or so; more like 10k-15k.


That's almost like saying Isaac Newton invented gravity because the apple hit him on the head. :rolleyes:

[proud gonzo]

MOTHER****IN TELEGRAPH

[olevetonahill]

Lightning
It helps us collect lots of insurance :P

[sooner_born_1960]

Disposable ******.
Is there a kind that you save?

[Sooner24]

Is there a kind that you save?


Tom Cruise probably does for an after dinner treat.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006170680,00.html

[OUinFLA]

the wheel bearing

[GottaHavePride]

Agriculture can go back tens of thousands of years. Same with fire. Ancient Egyptians had a written language and they were building pyramids at least 4,000 years ago.

My list for the last 5,000 years?

1. Metallurgy (Bronze/iron/steel)
2. Modern mathematics (thanks, Arabs!)
3. Printing Press
4. Electricity
5. Tie: the automobile and the telegraph

[Vaevictis]

That's almost like saying Isaac Newton invented gravity because the apple hit him on the head. :rolleyes:

Gravity ALWAYS existed. Agriculture didn't. :rolleyes:

Not like at all.

[GottaHavePride]

Gravity ALWAYS existed. Agriculture didn't. :rolleyes:

Not like at all.

Yeah, agriculture was invented (or "developed" for people that dislike the word "invented") - but it happened farther back than 5,000 years.

[Sooner24]

Okay did Madame Currie invent Radium or discover it? It always existed but she just chanced upon it. Every time you figure something out does not make it an invention. If I find that my tomato plants like water I didn't invent anything.

[OUTromBoNado]

Soonerfans.com

"Claiming unfortunate souls one post at a time."

[Ike]

not in any particualr order but my 5 from the top of my head would be:

calculus
the scientific method
printing press
navigation
tie: wireless communication (of all forms), electricity, refrigeration, genetic modification of crops, paper

[olevetonahill]

not in any particualr order but my 5 from the top of my head would be:

calculus
the scientific method
printing press
navigation
tie: wireless communication (of all forms), electricity, refrigeration, genetic modification of crops, paper

NERD

[Ike]

NERD


way to state the obvious there ;)

[SOONER44EVER]

Did anyone mention duct tape?

[Octavian]

Television.

Farnsworth never gets his proper due.

[olevetonahill]

way to state the obvious there ;)
It was rather succinct wasn't it ? :P

[olevetonahill]

Did anyone mention duct tape?
That is the top 5 :D

[Shamrock]

Internet porn has got to be in the top five.

[SOONER44EVER]

I have new info. She is supposed to write about the top 10 not top 5 and they are supposed to be technological inventions.

[Octavian]

television...its changed human existence more in less than a century than all that other junk combined.

[jacru]

clock
printing press
firearms
electric power generation
telephone
internal combustion engine
Air conditioning/refrigeration
radio
TV
computer

[SOONER44EVER]

clock
printing press
firearms
electric power generation
telephone
internal combustion engine
Air conditioning/refrigeration
radio
TV
computer
We didn't even think about the clock.

[OUinFLA]

Soonerfans.com

"Claiming unfortunate souls one post at a time."


POTD
Maybe even POTY

[White House Boy]

air conditioning
the forward pass
massaging leather recliners
the 46 defense
Reese's peanut butter cups

[GDC]

If vaccines/antibiotics/pathology are not in the top five the list is faulty.

[NormanPride]

Nobody's said "birth control"? Are you kidding? We invented how to have sex but not have that pesky side-effect!


Oh, and no votes for CDIAB?

[soonerjoker]

power steering

[GDC]

live-chicken-in-a-can

[IB4OU2]

Did anyone mention Gunpowder, Iron/Steel, Penicillin, Electricity or the Ronco Slice and Dice?

[OUMonster]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the camera.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Member's Only Jackets
The Wishbone
The 5-2 defense
the synthesizer
Ernest Goes to ..... movies

[Cack]

Duct Tape
WD-40
Beer
Muscle Cars
Recliner Chair

[skycat]

I'm picking only widgets. When I hear invention, I think of something I can hold in my hand, or at least put my hand on. These are not in any particular order.

Printing Press - This is a no-brainer, precipitated an enormous leap in the spread of information.

Steam Engine - Primary force behind the industrial revolution. First really important thermodynamic power generation method that would eventually lead to huge advances in industry, transportation, and ubiquitous, easily distributed power (electricity).

Transistor - Got the nod over vacuum tubes as having the device on a semi-conductor substrate allowed for the integration that gave rise to all the crazy computer stuff we've seen in the last 50-60 years.

Gun Powder - Enormous political and sociological impact. Huge change in the way in which wars are fought.

Plumbing - There needs to be something on the list that addresses improvents in sanitation and public health. I thought about anti-biotics, but I'm guessing, and it is just a guess, that a method of keeping the water supply clean has saved more lives than having a curative.

[Rogue]

In no particular order:

Gunpowder
Internal Combustion Engine
Electricity
Vaccination
Antibiotics
Airplane (Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue)
Telephone
Computer
Photography (Xrays, CT Scan, OJ Trial, Farks)
Refrigeration

[OUinFLA]

http://www.glass-pipes-water-bongs.com/foto/big/116-the-bong-question-mix.jpg

[StoopTroup]

I'm going to go with the repeating rifle.

http://www.micksguns.com/images/spencer%20repeating%20rifle%202.jpg

and the Hydrogen Bomb.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/PF/PF_972672.jpg

[White House Boy]

Note to self: never **** off StoopTroup.

[noleamite]

Chuck Norris

[dolemitesooner]

sigh