The Neolithic Age
The Neolithic Age is one of the most influential periods in human history. The way we live today, settled in homes and close to other people, protected by law and eating food grown on farms, is a result of the Neolithic revolution that occurred around 11,500-5,000 years ago. The end of the Ice Age allowed for the introduction of cereal cultivation and animal domestication, a change from hunting and gathering as a lifestyle to farming. This was a huge shift for humans, who had spent their lives living on the move, moving from place to place and hunting animals. A key development in this period was the introduction of stone tools. Instead of chipping softer stones, Neolithic communities used grinding and polishing techniques to make implements that would last longer. This allowed them to improve upon older designs and even invent entirely new ones.
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution ushered in new manufacturing processes and products that revolutionized the world, changing how people lived and worked. With new manufacturing processes and products, people were inclined to move from rural areas to cities, where they worked in factories. This abrupt move to cities, as well as the invention of machines such as the steam engine, undoubtedly changed the world, spawning new industries, increased GDPs, and improved the standard of living for many.
The 20th Century
During this century, the industrialization of iron and steel brought about changes in construction that revolutionized our lives. These innovations helped us build higher, stronger, and more complex buildings than ever before. A major transition came when the use of Bessemer steel made it possible to build skyscrapers. Combined with mechanized equipment and Elisha Otis’ safer design for elevators, this allowed buildings to reach heights previously unimaginable. These buildings, which could rise to as many as ten stories, were the ultimate symbol of economic and industrial power. They inevitably became an American icon and a global symbol of progress and prosperity.