I could make argument for many other inventions. But then I would be disagreeing with historian William Rosen author of The Most Powerful Idea in the World. Rosen claimed on the Jon Stewart Show (one of my favs btw) that the most powerful invention is the steam engine, because it marks both the birth of the industrial revolution in England, as well as the beginning of an era of sustained technological innovation. What do you guys think? Take my poll?
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While the steam engine was important in the industrial revolution there is a point being missed. Steam power was the first transportable power.You could build a steam engine anywhere you needed it for power.
While the steam engine was important in the industrial revolution there is a point being missed. Steam power was the first transportable power.You could build a steam engine anywhere you needed it for power. The screw cutting engine lathe is still the most important invention ever. It was the first invention that could basically make a copy of itself.
While I agree with Dave about portable power, I think the devekopment from stationary engine to railway engine opened up more countries by railway pioneering than anything else.
Hadn’t thought of portability — water and fire. Anyway the steam engine represents “raw power” to me. Worked for farmers that remembered the first migrating steam threshers and crews – whistles at dawn, a machine that simply left a farmer standing, watching.
I would agree the steam engine IS the most important and most powerful invention ever. The fact that it is portable still goes deeper to the fact that it was a steam engine and provided the motive power for the industrial revolution and a lot more.