Printing press
Printing press, 1440 CE Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany, the printing press could print text quickly, unlike block printing, which had to be done by hand.
Horseshoe, 400–450 CE Metal shoes, nailed to horses’ hooves, appeared in western Europe by about 450 CE.
Keeping time The first mechanical clock was invented by China’s Su Sung. It was powered by the energy of falling water and the bucket collecting the water had to be emptied regularly. The first clock to use a clockwork mechanism (powered by a wound-up spring), appeared in Europe more than 200 years later.
Longbow, 1200 CE The English longbow was much more powerful than the ordinary bow and helped the English win many battles against the French. Despite its name, it originated in Wales.
EUROPE
Artesian well, 1126 CE An Artesian well allowed access to underground water without the need for it to be pumped. The earliest known well was dug in Artois, France.
Stern-mounted rudder, 1180 CE The rudder enabled ships to steer through water more easily. The earliest known evidence of a rudder was found in Belgian art.
Spectacles, 1286 CE In 1286, Italian monk Giordano da Pisa wrote a description of eyeglasses— the first mention of them anywhere in the world.
Hourglass, 1338 CE Invented by the Venetians, the hourglass was ideal at sea because its accuracy was unaffected by bobbing waves.
Heavy plow, 650 CE The heavy plow allowed farmers to farm on dense clay soil, which helped to increase food production throughout northern Europe.
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Plow
SOUTH AMERICA Rope bridge, 600 CE The earliest known rope bridge was built in Peru. The design has since inspired some of the world’s largest suspension bridges.
“ The greatest inventions were produced in the times of ignorance.” Jonathan Swift, Britsh author, in Thoughts on Various Subjects, 1727
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CHINESE ALCHEMISTS (EXPERIMENTERS) DISCOVERED GUNPOWDER BY
