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Eh, anything related directly to humans has been done before. Computers, internal combustion, electricity and medicine are the only major advances we've got ove
by prodmerc 11y ago
Eh, anything related directly to humans has been done before. Computers, internal combustion, electricity and medicine are the only major advances we've got over those living 1000 years ago...
- crpatino 11y agoI suppose if I go with the spirit of your statement, it is possible to argue that both computers and medicine were done in some form or another for the last 5 thousand years (think abacus, folk herbalism, etc). It is just that we have figured out how to leverage greater resources (including information) to do those in a much more effective way. On the other hand, the combination of embodied knowledge and chemical energy to create machines, i.e. the internal combustion engine, is a truly novel achievement of our civilization.
- ZanyProgrammer 11y agoThat's a rather big "only".
- prodmerc 11y agoI mean, we could live fine without them. I forgot all the advances in agriculture, which is arguably more important...
- Blackthorn 11y agoModern agriculture depends on literally all of those things you listed (medicine if you're being liberal with the definition).
- eru 11y agoThey invented/adopted a bunch of agricultural things in the agricultural revolution. That was between the 1000 years ago mentioned and the invention of the internal combustion engine, electricity etc. Like a better plow, using legumes to replenish nutrients, etc.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- InclinedPlane 11y agoAnd science, et al. These aren't exactly small things, these are the things of eon defining boundaries. Human beings may be fundamentally made of the same things, our physical and emotional machinery may be largely unchanged. But how we live is hugely different.
- eru 11y ago> Computers, internal combustion, electricity and medicine are the only major advances we've got over those living 1000 years ago... What about external combustion engines? Also, read about agricultural and industrial revolution.
- swimfar 11y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile Although it seems that it may never have been used for any practical purpose, it is often considered to be the first steam engine and was documented in the 1st century AD.
- eru 11y agoYes, they had some nifty toys. Modern steam engines took off because they managed to make accurate pistons and cylinders. (And a myriad other factors.)