First high explosive that could be safely handled. Useful for mining and clearing areas for infrastructure.
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
William Murdock's cool thing he did (1792)
Samuel F. B. Morse's telegraph and Morse Code (1837)
This would allow for long-distance communication
George Stephenson's Rocket, 1829, would lead to great railroad infrastructure, which helped with city planning, made moving to the city easier, and made trade and large-scale commerce much better. For example, now placing factories in population centers made more sense. (I barely understand why myself, but okay)
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
cars go vroom
Henry Bessemir's steel converter (1854)
Revolutionized the production of steel
Crompton's "mule" + Spinning jenny and water frame fully automated weaving process. Yeah.
First commercially successful (though kind of clumsy) steam engine, used to pump water out of coal mines. Big deal, since we've just unlocked a new power source.
Cathode rays discovered
1858
Eli Whitney (1793)'s cotton gin
More efficient thread spinning
Charles Babbage (1834)'s analytic engine
First ancestor of the computer
Joseph Monier (1849)
First transatlantic cable completed
1858
James Watt's efficient steam engine (1765)
Jethro Tull (1708)'s mechanical seed drill
Helped plant crops
Singer's first practical sewing machine (1851)
Allowed for more sewing, including at-home
Early form of photography
Mass slaughter is now possible, begins mechanization of warfare. Unfortunately, as some predicted, his machine gun did not prevent war — people still fought, despite these monsters being on the battlefield.
Useful for, like, ship distress calls. Say, for example, the one the Titanic sent out.
John Kay (1733)'s flying shuttle
Marc Brunel's first underwater tunnel (1826-1842)
Thomas Edison (1879)
Invented the incandescent lamp. Though he was, in general, prone to rude tendencies.
Large suspension bridge, "triumph of engineering."
James Hargreaves (1765)'s spinning jenny
Automated thread spinning
Cartwright's power loom (1787)
James Brindley (1761)'s Bridgewater Canal
Allowed for barges to carry coal from Worsely to Manchester
The first successful steamboat. Like the locomotive, made trade so, so much better. For example, now the US could leverage its advantage in having the Mississippi river.
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone (1876)
