First skyscraper (10 stories tall) (in Chicago)
1883
Singer's first practical sewing machine (1851)
Allowed for more sewing, including at-home
Daguerre's daguerrotype (1838)
Early form of photography
James Watt's efficient steam engine (1765)
Like fifty years later, they finally came out with a steam engine with a condensing chamber, making it more efficient. Also a pretty big deal.
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone (1876)
Brooklyn Bridge opened (1883)
Robert Fulton (1807)'s Clermont
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.
Charles Babbage (1834)'s analytic engine
First ancestor of the computer
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.
Michael Faraday (1831)'s discovery of electromagnetic currents
Made generators and electrical engines possible
Lit his home using coal gas. Also, he was James Watt's assistant.
This is a record player. Useful for music, instructions, etc.,
Eiffel Tower (1889)
For the World Exposition in Paris
Liverpool and Manchester Railway (1830)
Reinforced Concrete
Cathode rays discovered
1858
Samuel F. B. Morse's telegraph and Morse Code (1837)
This would allow for long-distance communication
Gugliemo Marconi (1901) transatlantic radio message
From Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
First transatlantic cable completed
1858
Alfred Nobel's dynamite (1867)
First high explosive that could be safely handled. Useful for mining and clearing areas for infrastructure.
First steam-powered mill (1779)
Crompton's "mule" + Spinning jenny and water frame fully automated weaving process. Yeah.
Jethro Tull (1708)'s mechanical seed drill
Helped plant crops
Eli Whitney (1793)'s cotton gin
This separated the useful raw cotton from its seeds, making the cotton industry much more profitable. It had mixed effects — remember how a lot of cotton was farmed using slave labor.
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
cars go vroom
Allowed for barges to carry coal from Worsely to Manchester
John Kay (1733)'s flying shuttle
Tremendously helped with making weaving easier, used in the putting-out industry at first.
Robert Trevithick (1801)'s steam locomotive demonstration
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)
Marc Brunel's first underwater tunnel (1826-1842)
Hiram Maxim's machine gun (1884)
