Understanding the Inventions That Changed the World

People are surrounded by great inventions that have transformed their daily lives; beginning the exploration of great inventions by considering just how pervasive inventions are; knowing how they work; who invented them and why.

Stepping back to the Stone Age to look at the craft of pottery and the development of metals; although one might think of ancient people as primitive, early humans are observant about the world around them; several complex inventions.

Technology and material abundance; how the Agricultural Revolution changes life for early humans; tracing the development of alcoholic beverages, from the earliest days of civilization through the Middle Ages; the cultural insights alcohol can offer.

Technology, whether it is an oxcart or a telecommunications network, facilitates interaction between people; exploring the role of trade in early societies; how ships, coins and the alphabet shape the civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean.

Studying the use of technology in securing and maintaining political power; examining the role of the crossbow in the Warring States era of China; the crossbow is a marvel of engineering that shapes the political history of China for centuries.

The glory of Roman engineering, from the Romans' system of roads to their impressive monuments; how these structures work from a technical standpoint; why build them; studying Roman history; exploring the way in which technology serves state ends.