Tech Timeline

Sundial

3500 BCE

The first technology used to keep track of time throughout the day was Obelisks, built in ancient Egypt for various reasons, but their shadows cast along the ground were used to tell what time of day it was. Later on, markers were placed on the ground around obelisks to segment days into specific units of time. This led to the creation of the Sundial. There are so many different timekeeping devices throughout history, from sundials and hourglasses to mechanical clocks.

Chariot

3000 BCE

Animal-drawn vehicles are a staple of ancient civilizations, and one of the oldest examples was the Chariot. Thought to originate from ancient Mesopotamia in 3000 B.C., the earliest chariots were pulled by oxen, but later by horses when they became the ideal draft animal.

Mirror

2900 BCE

Of course humans could see their own reflections since they first found a river, but the first man-made mirrors were made around 2900 BC in ancient Egypt. They were made of polished bronze in a circle and often carried the images of gods on the opposite side.

Umbrella / Parasol

2500 BCE

The first parasols were used in ancient Egypt to shelter from the sun. They were mostly used for royalty, and since Egypt was a dry place, there wasn't a need to waterproof the parasol to create a rain-protecting umbrella. That invention goes to China around 1000 BC, creating umbrellas from silk.

Paper

2250 BCE

Prior to the invention of paper, most writing was done on some form of stone or clay tablet. Though technically not the same as paper, papyrus is the same basic concept, a thin sheet made from plant fibers, and the first papyrus scrolls were used around 2250 BC.

Lock and Key

2000 BCE

The oldest example of locks using keys dates back to around 2000 BC, in Nineveh. These locks were large and made of wood, but largely resembled later versions of tumbler pin locks. The keys looked like large angled wooden toothbrushes.

Currency

770 BCE

Currency is believed to have first been used in China around 700 BC, though the first minted coins were created in Lydia (modern Turkey) around 600 BC

Kites

400 BCE

During their first creation in ancient China, kites were more than just simple novelties used as pastimes, though that was part of it. Crafted from bamboo and silk (later paper) kites were used as weather tools to tell the direction of wind, and also used as military tools.

Mathematics

300 BCE

While counting systems have basically existed since the dawn of man, complex mathematics mostly started to show up in ancient Greece. They divided mathematics into arithmetic (study of quantity) and geometry (study of magnitude). The mathematician Euclid was one of the most influential figures in this field at the time.

Compass

100

The compass utilizes magnetism to point a piece of iron or a magnetic material towards north. The basics of magnetism were understood around 500 BC, while the first compass was made between 200 BC and 100 AD, and was originally used for fortune telling and the like, but later was adapted as a navigational tool. Early versions of the compass featured a spoon made of lodestone balanced on a plate, with the handle facing north.

Folding Fan

670

The folding fan is believed to have been first invented in 670 AD in Japan. It was, of course, originally used to keep cool, but as time went on, it became a popular art piece and could be used to communicate messages, and could even be a weapon.

Gunpowder

1000

Gunpowder is believed to have first been created in China between the 9th and 10th century. The earliest uses for gunpowder was powering fireworks. By the 12th century they had developed a "Fire Lance", which was a very early version of a gun, and fired arrows or metal bits out of the end of a long tube.

Eyeglasses

1285

Though other forms of reading aids existed around 1000 AD, in the form of reading stones, the first eyeglasses worn on the face to aid sight were invented around 1285 AD by Salvino D'Armate

Playing Cards

1300

While its not known when exactly playing cards were first made, it is known they appeared in Europe between 1300 and 1400. The earliest card decks featured used clubs, cups, swords, and coins as their suits.

Leonardo Da Vinci Born

Apr 15, 1452

Leonardo Da Vinci was an incredibly important inventor and figure during the Renaissance. Among his accomplishments are harnessing the power of the sun, designing a tank several centuries before they were made, advanced strides in studying human anatomy, and designed a precursor to modern diving suits, alongside of course, his world renowned paintings.