why is it often cited that man's (human's) greatest invention is the wheel? Surely it is language or writing. The chinese survived for thousands of years without the wheel.
2006-06-08 07:05:48 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I agree with you but I can see why others think the greatest invention is the wheel. Simple as it seems, it is the very basis of movement. Carts, bi-cycles, cars and trains move on wheels. It is not only for transport that we need the wheel. Machines that produce various goods for us, watches that tell us the time, generators that produce electricity, and many gadgets which have become essential in our day-to-day life cannot work without a wheel.
I however think that man's greatest invention is language.
2006-06-08 07:16:02 · answer #1 · answered by llemonandlime 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The wheel is probably the most important mechanical invention of all time. Nearly every machine built since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution involves a single, basic principle embodied in one of mankind’s truly significant inventions. It’s hard to imagine any mechanized system that would be possible without the wheel or the idea of a symmetrical component moving in a circular motion on an axis. From tiny watch gears to automobiles, jet engines and computer disk drives, the principle is the same. Based on diagrams on ancient clay tablets, the earliest known use of this essential invention was a potter’s wheel that was used at Ur in Mesopotamia (part of modern day Iraq} as early as 3500 BC. The first use of the wheel for transportation was probably on Mesopotamian chariots in 3200 BC. It is interesting to note that wheels may have had industrial or manufacturing applications before they were used on vehicles.
A wheel with spokes first appeared on Egyptian chariots around 2000 BC, and wheels seem to have developed in Europe by 1400 BC without any influence from the Middle East. Because the idea of the wheel appears so simple, it’s easy to assume that the wheel would have simply "happened" in every culture when it reached a particular level of sophistication. However, this is not the case. The great Inca, Aztec and Maya civilizations reached an extremely high level of development, yet they never used the wheel. In fact, there is no evidence that the use of the wheel existed among native people anywhere in the Western Hemisphere until well after contact with Europeans.
Even in Europe, the wheel evolved little until the beginning of the nineteenth century. However, with the coming of the Industrial Revolution the wheel became the central component of technology, and came to be used in thousands of ways in countless different mechanisms
2006-06-08 07:20:15 · answer #2 · answered by bashah1939 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancient South Americans are believed to not have developed the wheel, but that didn't stop them building pyramids.
I think money probably counts as man's greatest invention. For all the evil it causes, money is the mechanism that smoothes interaction between men, making our society possible. It has no mechanical parts, just an idea that at some point in the future you will be able to redeem it for something you need. It facilitated trade in goods, which led to the trade of ideas.
If you don't believe me, try buying bread by paying in chickens some time, and see how far you get.
2006-06-08 14:13:56 · answer #3 · answered by blearyboy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they should be categorised. Like the wheel is man's greatest mechanical invention. I think Language and writing are actually the mother of all inventions.
2006-06-08 07:40:31 · answer #4 · answered by violeo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good point. The wheel in itself was a useless invention. It need the invention of the axel as well. Its like inventing a lightrbulb without discovering electricity.
2006-06-08 07:10:49 · answer #5 · answered by malcy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
!!! PIZZA !!! was mans greatest invention.
Oh I grant you the wheel was pretty good to but it doesn't go with beer nearly as well..
Seriously.... I think the plow was bigger than the wheel.,..
If we had no plows we all would still be wandering about in bans of 10 or 20 still hunting and gathering for our lives.
The plow settled us in one place and grew our numbers in that place. That lead to groups that thought more and began barter with other groups.
We had plows before the wheel
The plow civilized us.. the wheel just helped move us about
without plows we never would have settled anywhere
Everyone is stuck on the wheel.. We don't need wheels to plant crops.. We don't need wheels to move those crops... Thw wheel makes it easy but without the plow there would be nothing to harvest / move.
2006-06-08 07:15:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. Man's greatest invention is philosophy itself. We are the only creatures (on earth, at least) that think. Books are also a wondrous invention.
2006-06-08 07:09:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, man's greatest invention is the wheel. wheels made way for faster transport and later made way for machines and the world as we see now.
2006-06-08 07:10:33 · answer #8 · answered by tommy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the wheel allowed man to get from one place to another.
the wheel allowed for man to get things from one place to another.
the wheel allowed man to plant crops, but more important to take those crops and develop food.
the wheel allowed man to expand his thinking into other areas that he could use the wheel as a helper. Building etc.
Heavens to Bessie, without the wheel what would we have today. Probalem our feet to get around in, and we would still be looking for food in the great plains.
2006-06-08 07:15:33 · answer #9 · answered by kickinupfunf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its weird to think somone had to invent...the wheel. its like someone inventing shelter or clothes...wasnt it kinda a given. but i agree i think mans greatest invention is sliced bread.
2006-06-08 07:09:28 · answer #10 · answered by Serviceman82 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋