2007-04-27 04:01:22 · 8 answers · asked by clarevale 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I think one of the most important innovations of the 19th century would be the railroad. It allowed for fast transport of goods, and people, on a scale never seen before. It also changed the nature of warfare allowing for faster and larger mobilization of troops.
2007-04-27 04:15:53 · answer #1 · answered by Nadir A 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Germ Theory
Although this was in truth discussed as far back as the 17th century, the idea that germs - unseen organisms - caused disease and how to prevent/deal with illness was pioneered by both Pasteur and Lister.
At the time, it was believed that exposure to air was responsible for infection. To an extent that was true- but it wasn't the air - but rather contaminants contained in the air that were causing sepsis.
Imagine how many lives/limbs could have been saved if the surgeons of the Civil War had only washed their hands between operations!
2007-04-27 11:19:29 · answer #2 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The telephone. It allowed almost instant communication between great distances. When you consider in the beginning of the 19th century a battle (New Orleans) was fought after the peace treaty was signed and by the end of the century people could talk to each other across great distances, that is remarkable.
When you think of how "small" the world has become in the age of instant communications, the telephone went a long way to bridge the distances.
2007-04-27 11:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin C 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The electric light bulb. This led the way to stopping humans from relying on the cycle of the day. This was especially important for those people living far away from the equator, as in winter, there is very little daylight.
2007-04-29 09:11:19 · answer #4 · answered by Dawn S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The railroad as it allowed the western US to develop and united the country as well as allowed the resources to be better utilized. It also allowed the cities to develop next to the rail lines as contrasted with Europe where the cities were in place prior to the rail routes which then linked them.
2007-04-27 11:22:00 · answer #5 · answered by lyyman 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The elevator--more people able to live or work in a smaller space.
2007-04-27 11:05:58 · answer #6 · answered by Beau D. Satva 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With out a doubt, air conditioning. No other answer can match this except for maybe plumbing.
2007-04-27 11:08:50 · answer #7 · answered by EMK 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The railroad but more specifically the steam engine.
2007-04-27 12:10:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋