LAWLzoR

Throughout the history of humans, we have conquered nature; we have ended the need of natural selection to make humans live longer and healthier lives. Our inventions have done so much as to make me posting this possible, even me being able to live. From farming, to animal husbandry, all the way to computers and medicine, humans have found their own ways of taking charge of this giant rock we call "Earth".

However technologies had to start somewhere. We didn't have computers and modern medicine back in the Stone Age. The technologies invented though were very useful and are the buildings blocks of modern day. So I'd like to present to you: The 8 top inventions that changed human history from 10000 BCE (BC) to 470 CE (AD) (basically around the time the Roman Empire fell). Please note that these are in no particular order.

1. Agriculture/Farming
It's estimated that around 8000 BCE (in what's known as the Neolithic Era) that agriculture became a widely used technique and thus the creation of permanent settlements. Farming allowed for more food to become available to people. Before agriculture, usually nomadic tribes were a "hunter-gatherer" type of society. Men usually went hunting and women usually went gathering (for berries, fruits, etc.). This created a pretty equal society as both men and women were important for survival. However this technique only allowed for an equilibrium of sorts. 1000 calories of energy usually got you 1000 calories of food. This meant that the societies had to focus on food first, and other activities second.

2. Permanent Settlements
Like I said in the agriculture section, agriculture allowed for permanent settlements. With these permanent settlements, people were usually protected due to people being in one place, thus other people of one's tribe were easier to get in times of need. I'm going to stretch this section to also include city planning, because they really go hand-in-hand. City planning also allowed for the extra food from the farms to be stored for later use, and allowed for easy city navigation.

3. Animal Husbandry
Before the joke gets made, no, animal husbandry is not marrying animals. It is the technique that domesticates animals and use them in daily lives and with tasks. For example, the ox and plow is an example of human made technology with help from animals. With this help of animals and the domestication of such humans were able to ride the backs of horses, farm with the help of the ox and cow, and the famous Man's Best Friend: the dog. With the help of animals humans were able to travel faster, farm more efficiently, and hunt with an animal ally.

4. Weaponry
I don't think I need to dive into this too much as I'm sure we're all familiar with what weaponry is capable to do and has done, but I'll sum it up by saying that it allowed for easier hunting, protection from either animals or humans (really anything I suppose) and for easier attacking to get what you need or want. From an evolutionary stand point, weaponry is a big plus for survival.

5. The Wheel
While in this day in age there are better versions of the wheel you can't deny that the wheel has been a huge part in modern and past times. It not only allowed for easier movement and transportation of not only people but resources and became the inspiration for other inventions such as the gear and the pulley. Neither of which would be possible without first inventing the wheel.

6. Boating/Sea Navigation
Just like city planning and permanent settlements, boating and sea navigation are like peanut butter and jelly. Boating allowed for easy and fast movement between point A and point B. Boating is actually so much better than most on-land transportation that it's faster to transport something from Virginia to California by taking the much longer route through the Panama Canal than by having it be taken straight to California via truck or vehicle. This was also the case back then. It takes a lot less time to take a boat from one end of the Roman Empire to the other than to walk or ride by horse. Sea navigation allowed for much easier and safer routes to take place, because knowing where someone is is key for commercial ventures. Knowing how to get your shipment of ivory from the east coast of Africa to the island civilizations of Indonesia is important.

7. Organized Military
Having a well kept and organized military or standing army or any sort of protection that isn't a wall is important for keeping you and your people safe. While walls to stand for longer than humans (take a look at the walls of Rome today) having only walls will do nothing against an invading force. To keep your commerce moving, to keep your farm safe, to keep the people you rule over safe, to do all of that is impossible without having an organized military because not only is it efficient because its organized and well kept but is also experienced and trained.

8. Alcohol
While I don't condone the consumption of alcohol by underaged people, alcohol does have its place in society and even for survival. Imagine this: the river you live near does have relatively clean water. No dirt visible, not enough salt to be counter active to your body, just nice crisp and clear water. However within that water live dangerous viruses and bacteria that can cause diseases and illnesses like diarrhea, dysentery, and even illnesses not starting with the letter "D" like cholera and malaria (malaria if it's standing water because of mosquitoes). Here comes along alcohol. No bacteria or small creature can live in a big enough container of alcohol. This reasoning was even used in early America where apple cider and booze were made to make sure no one caught any diseases in untreated water.

Those are my top 8 inventions that changed human history. Are there any that I missed? Are there any that you think is more important? Please leave a message in the comments and let me know. Thank you for reading!