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The Most Powerful Idea in the World: A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention

Key insights from William Rosen's

The Most Powerful Idea in the World: A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention


Key insights from William Rosen's

The Most Powerful Idea in the World: A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention

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Length:
8 minutes

Discover the fascinating true story behind one of the most transformative inventions in modern history.

<p>The invention of the steam engine in the 18th century was one of humanity’s most important breakthroughs, changing the course of humankind and ushering in an age of transportation, communication, and mass production. Even centuries later, many modern technologies can still trace their origins to this innovative technology. In this Snapshot, you’ll explore how the steam engine and other inventions from the Industrial Revolution influenced the trajectory of history, philosophy, and science. </p><br>

Read this Snapshot if you:

  • Are curious about how the invention of the steam engine led to the Industrial Revolution
  • Want to know more about how the steam engine works
  • Are interested in how the culture of 18th-century Britain generated a community of new inventions
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Introduction

One simple idea made the Industrial Revolution possible: the discovery that boiling water could be harnessed for energy, and this energy could be used to produce motion. The invention of the steam engine originated from this simple, revolutionary notion, yet it went on to transform the way the whole world worked, changing civilization from a system based on agriculture to one based on industry.

Up until then, between the years of 800 BCE and 1600 CE, the average person’s quality of life remained mostly unchanged. Kingdoms and communities were built around agricultural systems...

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