Revised List of Top Ten Inventions.

1- Controlled Fire- We take fire for granted because it is so central to a million things in our lives in modern times. We have also begun to move away from fire to electric heating and other such sources, but we need to understand the historical importance of controlled fire and how it contributed to cleanliness and the cooking of food which save countless lives.

2 Penicillin- In keeping with the theme of health it is vitally important to remember the importance of modern day antibiotics. So much of society as we know it today could not function when people's lives were constantly being threatened by minor infections. A healthy society is a functioning society.

3- The Wheel- This is one of the most basic and important inventions of all time. Most forms of modern transportation as well as machines and anything with a pully system is impossible without the wheel. While it may not seem glamorous today we could have have done many of the amazing human accomplishments without the advent of the wheel.

4 Engine- The Engine is the key to every modern day machine including every form other than manual transportation. The Car, Plane, Motor Boat, and Train are all not possible without the modern Engine. Along with that list is most machinery necessary to efficient production.

5 Sewage- It is almost impossible to imagine societies today without modern sewage systems today, because they are so integral to healthy human existence. Part of the reason that cities are viable things is because of modern sewage systems. Without sewage it is hard to image a world that progressed past having a majority of people live as subsistence farmers because they had to stay spread out enough to be able to leave feces and urine in unused land.

6 Birth Control- The pill allowed for women to take control of their lives in a way that was never seen before. Historically women would get married, get pregnant, and be a stay home parent as a result without any chance at a career or the plethora of other life paths. With the advent of the pill women became far less tethered and could join the work force in mass.

7 Electricity- Life today is almost unimaginable without electricity. If we simply look at the one application of electricity through light bulbs it is easy to see the importance of being able to work see and live after the sun goes down. Instead of being able to effectively capture 12-16 hours of the day one could now capture all 24.

8 Printing Press- The printing press was huge in the spreading of literature at resonable prices in high quantities. As a result people became literate in much higher numbers and the idea of education gained importance. All the positive externalities associated with education can be attributed to the printing press.

9 Internet- The internet has had a similar effect as the printing press as it has once again made the spreading of ideas and literature much cheaper and easier and has once again helped with educating the masses as well as connecting people to a much greater extent.

10 Semi Conductors- These are at the center of every computer, cell phone, and a million other machines. Without semi conductors the majority of modern day computing and electronics are not possible.