Wikipedia:
Timeline of historic inventions
This is a chronological list of particularly important or significant inventions.
Note: Dates for inventions are often controversial. Inventions are often invented by several inventors around the same time, or may be invented in an impractical form many years before another inventor improves the invention into a practical form. Where there is ambiguity, the date of the first working version of the invention is used here.
Paleolithic Era
- Indeterminate: Music, Language
- 2.4 Ma BP: Olduwan - struck stone tools, in East Africa
- 1.65 Ma: Acheulean - struck and reworked stone tools, in Kenya
- 1.4 Ma: Knife in Ethiopia
- 1 Ma: Controlled fire and sterilization of food and water (cooking) in East Africa
- 500 ka:
Shelter construction [2] - 100-500 ka: Clothing
- 400 ka: Pigments in Zambia [3]
- 400 ka: Spears in Germany [4]
- 200 ka: Burial in Africa
- 100 ka: Lithic blades in Africa and the Near East
- 60 ka: Ships probably used by settlers of New Guinea
- 50 ka: Flute in Slovenia
- 50 ka: Bow in Tunisia [5] [6]
- 43 ka: Mining in Swaziland and Hungary
- 37 ka: Tally sticks in Swaziland [7]
- 30 ka: Sewing needles
- 26 ka: Ceramics in Moravia
- 25 ka: Atlatl in Northwest Africa [8]
- 17 ka: twisted Rope (probably much earlier)
- 12 ka: Basket weaving
- 12 ka: Pottery in Japan
10th millennium BC
- Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent
- Alcoholic beverages in the Fertile Crescent
- Adobe in the Near East
- 9500 BC: Granary in the Jordan Valley
9th millennium BC
- 8700 BC: Metalworking (copper pendant) in Mesopotamia (Iraq)
- 8000 BC: Wall (Jericho)
8th millennium BC
- Animal husbandry in the Near East
- Plaster in Jericho
7th millennium BC
- 7000 BC: Bow drill in Mehrgarh (Pakistan)[1]
- 7000 BC: Dental surgery in Mehrgarh[1]
- 6200 BC: Map in Çatalhöyük
- Cloth woven from flax fiber
6th millennium BC
- Irrigation in the Fertile Crescent
- Ploughs in Mesopotamia (Iraq)
5th millennium BC
- Beer and bread in Egypt
- Wheel and axle combination in Mesopotamia
4th millennium BC
- 4000 BC: Canal in Mesopotamia
- 3800s BC: Engineered roadway in England
- 3500 BC: Plywood in Egypt
- 3500 BC: Writing in Sumer
- 3500 BC: Carts in Sumer
- 3100 BC: Drainage in the Indus Valley Civilization (India/Pakistan)
- 3000 BC: Sailing
- Bronze: Susa (Iran)
- Silk in China
- Cement in Egypt
- River boats in Egypt
- Noodle in China
- Comb in
Persia (these combs were very refined, so combs themselves are probably older)
3rd millennium BC
- 2800 BC: Button in the Indus Valley Civilization
- 2800 BC: Soap in Mesopotamia
- 2630-2611 BC: Step pyramid: Imhotep in Egypt
- 2600s BC: Papyrus: Imhotep in Egypt
- 2600s BC: Suture: Imhotep in Egypt
- 2600s BC: Pharmaceutical cream: Imhotep in Egypt
- 2600 BC: Chariot in Mesopotamia
- 2600 BC: Artificial sewage system in the Indus Valley Civilization
- 2600 BC: Toilet in the Indus Valley Civilization
- 2500 BC: Flush toilet in the Indus Valley Civilization
- 2500 BC: Arch in Mohenjo-daro (Indus Valley Civilization)[2]
- 2400 BC: Shipyard in Lothal (Indus Valley Civilization)
- 2000 BC: Currency
- Dagger in Near East
- Sickle-sword in Sumer
- Alphabet in Phoenicia
- Candles in Egypt
- Sledges in Scandinavia
2nd millennium BC
- Perfume: Tapputi in Mesopotamia
- Bronze Age sword in Mesopotamia
- Glass in Egypt
- Rubber in Mesoamerica
- Spoked-wheel chariot: Indo-Iranians
- Water clock in Egypt
- Bells in China
- 1000s BC: Coins in China
1st millennium BC
- Catapult in Near East
- South Pointing Chariot in China
- Differential gear in China and Greek island of Antikythera
- Stupa in India
- Blowgun in India[3]
- Iron pellet in India[3]
- 500s BC: Sugar in India
- 500s BC: Dental bridge in Etruria
- 500s BC: Kite in China
- 500s BC: Trebuchet in China
- 475 BC: Scythed Chariot: Ajatashatru in India
- 500s BC: Plastic surgery: Sushruta in India
- 500s BC: Cosmetic surgery: Sushruta in India
- 400s BC: Football: in China
- 350 BC: Water wheel in India[4]
- 350 BC: Watermill in India[4]
- c. 300: Wootz steel in India
- 300s BC: Compass in China
- 300s BC: Screw: Archytas
- 200s BC: Compound pulley: Archimedes
- 200s BC: Odometer: Archimedes?
- 150s BC: Clockwork (Antikythera mechanism)
- 150s BC: Astrolabe: Hipparchus in Asia Minor
- 100s BC:
Big-toe stirrup in India[5] - 100s BC: Parchment in Pergamon
- 1st century BC: Glassblowing in Syria
- 1st century BC: Trip hammer in China
- 40 BC: Rolling-element bearing in Roman ship
- Chaturaji in India
- Chaturanga in India
- Xiangqi in China
1st millennium CE
- 50: Mouldboard plough in Gaul
- 100s: Aeolipile : Egypt by Hero of Alexandria
- 105: Paper: Cai Lun in China[6]
- 132: Rudimentary Seismometer: Zhang Heng in China
- 200s: Kongming lantern (Hot air balloon) in China
- 200s: Horseshoes in Germany
- 300s: Toothpaste in Egypt
- 400s: Horse collar in China
- 500-1000: Spinning wheel in India[7]
- 589: Toilet paper in China
- 673: Greek fire: Kallinikos of Heliopolis
- 700: Quill pen
- 700s: Brass astrolabe: Muhammad al-Fazari[8]
- 721-815: Alembic: Geber in Iraq[9]
- 721-815: Still: Geber
- 721-815: Distilled alcohol: Geber[9]
- 721-815: Distilled wine: Geber[9]
- 721-815: Distilled beverage: Geber
- 725: Clockwork escapement mechanism: Yi Xing of China
- 800-873: Valve: Banū Mūsā in Iraq[10]
- 800-873: Float valve: Banū Mūsā[10]
- 800-873: Feedback controller: Banū Mūsā[10]
- 800-873: Automatic flute player: Banū Mūsā[11]
- 800-873: Programmable machine: Banū Mūsā[11]
- 810-887: Glass from stones: Abbas Ibn Firnas in al-Andalus
- 810-887: Eye glasses: Abbas Ibn Firnas[12]
- 810-887: Metronome: Abbas Ibn Firnas
- 852: Parachute: Abbas Ibn Firnas in al-Andalus
- 875: Hang glider: Abbas Ibn Firnas
- c. 865-900: Kerosene: Al-Razi (Rhazes) in Iraq[12]
- c. 865-900: Kerosene lamp: Al-Razi
- 865-925: Hard soap: Al-Razi[13]
- 800s: Injection syringe: Ammar ibn Ali al-Mawsili in Iraq[12]
- 800s: Quadrant in Iraq[14]
- 800s: Windmill in Persia[15]
- 800s: Gunpowder in China
- 900s: Banknote in China
- 953: Fountain pen in Egypt[16]
- 994: Astronomical sextant: Abu-Mahmud al-Khujandi in Persia[17]
- Coffee: Khalid in Ethiopia
- Fore-and-aft rig in India[18]
- Lateen in India[18]
- Shogi in Japan
- Porcelain in China
- Woodblock printing in China
- Prayer wheel: Tibet[19]
- Shatranj in Persia
- Paned window in the Arab Empire[20]
- Street lamp in the Arab Empire[20]
- Retort in the Arab Empire
- Sherbet in the Arab Empire
- Soft drink in the Arab Empire
- Mercury escapement mechanism in the Middle East
2nd millennium
11th century
- c. 1000: Pendulum: Ibn Yunus in Egypt[21]
- 1000: Ligature: Abu al-Qasim (Abulcasis) in al-Andalus
- 1000: Forceps: Abu al-Qasim[22]
- 1000: Plaster: Abu al-Qasim[23]
- 1000: Curette: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- 1000: Retractor: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- 1000: Scalpel: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- 1000: Sound: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- 1000: Surgical needle: Abu al-Qasim[25]
- 1000: Surgical catgut: Abu al-Qasim
- 1000: Surgical hook: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- 1000: Surgical rod: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- 1000: Surgical spoon: Abu al-Qasim[24]
- c. 1000-1037: Thermometer: Avicenna (Ibn Sina) in Persia[26]
- c. 1000-1037: Steam distillation: Avicenna
- c. 1000-1037: Essential oil: Avicenna
- c. 1000-1048: Orthographical astrolabe: Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī in Persia[27]
- c. 1000-1048: Planisphere: Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī[27]
- c. 1000-1048: Laboratory flask: Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī[28]
- c. 1000-1048: Pycnometer: Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī[28]
- c. 1000-1048: Conical measure: Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī[29]
- 1011-1021: Parabolic mirror: Ibn al-Haytham (Alhacen) in Iraq
- 1011-1021: Pinhole camera: Ibn al-Haytham[30]
- 1011-1021: Camera obscura: Ibn al-Haytham[30]
- 1028-1087: Equatorium:
Arzachel (Al-Zarqali) in al-Andalus[31] - 1028-1087: Saphaea:
Arzachel - 1038-1075: Noria with flywheel: Ibn Bassal in al-Andalus[32]
- 1041: Movable type printing press: Bi Sheng in China
- 1088: Mechanical clock: Su Song
- 1088: Clock tower: Su Song
- 1088: Magnetic compass described by Shen Kuo in China
- Mechanical astrolabe: Ibn Samh in al-Andalus[33]
- Glass mirror in al-Andalus[12]
12th century
- c. 1100: Framed bead abacus in China
- 1100-1161: Tracheotomy: Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) in al-Andalus[25]
- 1119: Watertight hull compartment: Zhu Yu in China
- 1121: Steelyard: Al-Khazini in Persia[28]
- 1121: Hydrostatic balance: Al-Khazini[28]
- 1126: Fire arrow: Li Gang in China
- 1126: Rocket: Li Gang
- 1128: Cannon in China and Europe
- 1135-1200: Linear astrolabe: Sharaf al-Dīn al-Tūsī in Persia[34]
- 1154: Striking clock: Al-Kaysarani in Syria[35]
13th century
- c. 1200: Combination lock: Al-Jazari in Iraq (Mesopotamia)[16]
- 1206: Clock automaton: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Flow control regulator: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Closed-loop system: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Elephant clock: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Weight-driven mechanical clock: Al-Jazari[16]
- 1206: Hand washing device: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Kitchen appliance: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Cam: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Camshaft: Al-Jazari[36]
- 1206: Crankshaft: Al-Jazari[16]
- 1206: Crank mechanism: Al-Jazari[37]
- 1206: Connecting rod: Al-Jazari[37]
- 1206: Segmental gear: Al-Jazari[38]
- 1206: Suction pipe: Al-Jazari
- 1206: Suction piston pump: Al-Jazari[39]
- 1206: Reciprocating piston engine: Al-Jazari[39]
- 1206: Double-acting engine: Al-Jazari[39]
- 1206: Humanoid robot: Al-Jazari[40]
- 1206: Programmable robot: Al-Jazari[40]
- 1275: Torpedo: Hasan al-Rammah of Syria[41]
- 1297-1298: Wooden movable type printing: Wang Zhen of China
- Sandpaper in China
- Solid-fuel rocket in China
- Condom in Italy
14th century
- 1350: Suspension bridges in Peru
- Western chess in Italy
- Spherical astrolabe in the Middle East
15th century
- Arquebus and Rifle in Europe
- 1441: Rain gauge: Jang Yeong-sil
- 1450s: Alphabetic movable type printing press: Johann Gutenberg
- 1451: Concave lens for eyeglasses: Nicholas of Cusa
- 1490 - 1492: Globe "Nürnberg Terrestrial Globe" by German mapmaker Martin Behaim
16th century
- c. 1500: Ball bearing: Leonardo Da Vinci
- c. 1500: Scissors: Leonardo Da Vinci
- 1510: Pocket watch: Peter Henlein
- 1540: Ether: Valerius Cordus
- 1551: Steam turbine: Taqi al-Din in Egypt[42]
- 1576: Ironclad warship: Oda Nobunaga
- 1582: Gregorian calendar: multiple inventors
- 1589: Stocking frame: William Lee
- 1593: Thermoscope: Galileo Galilei
- Musket in Europe
- Pencil in England
17th century
- 1608: Telescope: Hans Lippershey
- 1609: Microscope: Hans Lippershey, Hans Janssen, Zacharias Janssen
- 1620: Slide rule: William Oughtred
- 1623: Automatic calculator: Wilhelm Schickard
- 1630-1632: Artificial wings: Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi in Turkey
- 1631: Vernier scale: Pierre Vernier
- 1633: Manned rocket: Lagari Hasan Çelebi in Turkey[41]
- 1642: Adding machine: Blaise Pascal
- 1643: Barometer: Evangelista Torricelli
- 1645: Vacuum pump: Otto von Guericke
- 1657: Pendulum clock: Christiaan Huygens
- 1672: Steam car: Ferdinand Verbiest[43][44]
- 1679: Pressure cooker: Denis Papin
- 1698: Steam engine: Thomas Savery
- 1700: Piano: Bartolomeo Cristofori