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Great ideas are not always cutting-edge. Let’s talk about technologies that were invented weirdly late, for example: We put a human on the moon years BEFORE anyone successfully added wheels to luggage! 
1/4 https://betafactory.com/what-came-first-wheeled-luggage-or-a-man-on-the-moon-20f8b22529a3
1/4 https://betafactory.com/what-came-first-wheeled-luggage-or-a-man-on-the-moon-20f8b22529a3
Wheeled luggage is great, but some missed simple technologies caused untold & unnecessary waste. This section, from Mann's 1491, suggests the moldboard plow is the biggest missed opportunity, a simple idea which China had for nearly 2k years before Europe! 2/4
Also:
The BUTTON was invented 3000 years ago, and was used for decoration.
The BUTTONHOLE was invented in 2300 years later.
Before that, clothes were tied or toggled together. 3/4 http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/button_history_a_visual_tour_of_button_design_through_the_ages_.html
The BUTTON was invented 3000 years ago, and was used for decoration.
The BUTTONHOLE was invented in 2300 years later.
Before that, clothes were tied or toggled together. 3/4 http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/button_history_a_visual_tour_of_button_design_through_the_ages_.html
Finally, the wheel itself, that archetype of easy technology, was invented shockingly late & maybe only invented once (as anything other than a toy). It was only developed in the Bronze Age, after sailboats and harps, and not at all in the Americas. 4/4 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-it-took-so-long-to-inv/
Also, lots of horse equipment:
The stirrup, which was more important for warfare than gunpowder, was invented 700 years after the saddle ( https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-stirrup/)
And the horse collar, a simple invention that sped up plowing by 50% and wasn't common in Europe until 1000
The stirrup, which was more important for warfare than gunpowder, was invented 700 years after the saddle ( https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-stirrup/)And the horse collar, a simple invention that sped up plowing by 50% and wasn't common in Europe until 1000
