What household items have been invented by wizards?

Question

I'm trying to win a debate with a friend. She says that both fire and corkscrews where invented by wizards in the middle ages. I say wizards invented the garlic press and the colander, but nothing more.

Answer 1

Define wizard. If you mean alchemists, then the household "gadget" vinegar would be one of their creations. They did discover acids as a class of chemicals and, I believe may have discovered Acetic acid--the basis of vinegar--itself

Answer 2

I think 'fire' has been around a lot longer than since the middle ages. From the point of view of being created by humans, that is. Many thousands of years longer. That's how they carbon dated some ancient campfires that are twenty thousand or more years old... So you can shoot her down in flames on that one...

The corkscrew was not needed until we started using corks in glass bottles and I believe that was in the seventeenth century when a monk invented them (corks) for early types of champage bottles. But the 17th century is after the middle ages anyway. And the first corkscrew was actually patented in 1795 by the Reverend Samuell Henshall, who was not a wizard! Here's the link that tells about it:

http://www.corkscrew.com/about.html

So...you can screw her (metaphorically) on that one....

I'd say the garlic press sounds pretty good, though. Made it a lot faster to whip up your garlic mixture to hang around your neck in a small bag. Yeah...

Maybe pointy hats...Though they're clothing rather than household...But if she doesn't quite get the point (groan!!) you can win on that....

How about nail clippers? You know...to take nail clippings...for various spells...

Good question, though. Let us know who wins...

Lenky :)

Hmm....Or maybe....

Answer 3

The Middle Ages are generally considered the 700 - 1450's time frame.

Okay, our use of fire is prehistoric.. so throw that one out the window !! The corkscrew goes back at LEAST as far as Archimedes and is "screw"... so that goes out the window.

I'd look more at the telescope, printing press, and such as "magical" devices.

Spend less time reading Harry Potter !!

Answer 4

It has been said that any technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic. That being said, I'd have to put matches and instant soup mix on the list.

Answer 5

I've got one of those Juicer kitchen wizards, does that count?

Answer 6

The microwave

Answer 7

You both are NUTS! There is no such thing as wizards.

Answer 8

umm yeah