The most important piece of technology to benefit society throughout history has been the wheel. Since its earliest known appearance in history during 5th millennium b.c., or the Ubaid period, the wheel has been helping man accomplish many tasks that without it, would be nearly impossible. Without the wheels presence in early civilization life would have struggled much more to simply live and carry out the simple tasks of everyday life, not to mention the fact that the wheel led to the invention of many products that would not be able to be lived without. Apart from aiding man with hard tasks and manual labor the wheel has also served him as a means of transportation. Weather it be riding in a formal carriage pulled by horses like kings and queens were accustomed to, riding in a chariot, or starting your car in the morning and driving to school or work, the wheel has made all of these possible. Aside from helping man with life’s necessities it has also brought him countless forms of entertainment. Chariot racing in ancient Rome, Nascar down south, riding an ATV (all terrain vehicle), or a young boy playing with his toy cars on the kitchen floor, the wheel has made all of these possible.
The wheel has made it possible for humans to move items at a much more efficient rate and has improved the amount of items we can carry. In Ancient Egypt the wheel was used in the transporting of the stones that made up the temples, pyramids and many of the ancient wonders that are scene there today. The wheel can be seen everywhere in everyday life. When the laptop carts are transported from classroom to classroom, its all thanks to the wheel. When a football player is wheeled off the field on a stretcher, we have the wheel to thank. Transporting heavy household appliances is aided by wheels. The lives of people who work in warehouses have been greatly improved by the invention of the wheel. Without it the moving of heavy boxes, crates, and pallets would be much harder and take a vastly longer amount of time. It is easy to see and appreciate how the wheel has made our lives, jobs and daily tasks simpler.
In addition to the simplification of tasks, the wheel has also allowed us to advance in our methods of transportation. With the invention of the wheel it began as animal driven carts. As time continued horse drawn carriages were a apart of everyday life. The wheel’s innovation led to the invention of gear’s and it wasn’t long before this led to the invention of horseless carriages. The automobile has advanced and evolved greatly over the years and without it our world as a whole would be a completely different place. People rely on the automobile to transport them multiple miles that are far beyond walking distance everyday to their jobs. Police, Emergency dispatchers, Firemen, the United States Postal Service, and even the piazza delivery guy rely on the wheel to help make our lives better and more efficient. Imagine if you will, someone has just been seriously injured and the nearest hospital was 10 miles away. That persons life relies on the fact that an ambulance exists to transport him to the nearest hospital that is far out of walking distance. The wheel makes this possible. The wheel’s helpfulness in our everyday lives is greatly overlooked by our society.
Aside from being helpful and convenient, the wheel has brought us countless forms of entertainment. Weather it be chariot racing in ancient Rome or swinging on a tire swing on a warm Autumn day, the wheel’s influence can be seen clearly. Millions of people enjoy watching Nascar and Formula One races each year. Sports Cars, Skateboards, and bicycles all have been made possible because of the wheel’s invention. All the children who wake up on Christmas morning and get the new Hess Truck, big wheel, bike, or hot wheels toy cars all have the wheel to thank. People who love building and modifying their cars and competing them have the wheel to thank as well. Without the innovation of the wheel many sports and forms of entertainment would cease to exist. The roll it holds in our society is a vast one.
Looking back throughout history at the wheel’s innovation and practicality, it is something that is taken so much for granted. So many inventions have been born because of the wheel. Inventions such as gears, carts, chariots, cars, motorcycles, and even clocks all have been made possible because of the wheel. So many things in our daily lives are affected by the wheel. As the future approaches one may wonder what the future of the wheel may look like. It is safe to say that the ancients that invented the wheel didn’t see the automobile coming. Nor would they have ever guessed that you could wear something on your wrist that tells you the time. As the future arrives each day, who’s to say what will be next?
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December 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
You have a strong sense of voice and your writing style is relaxed yet follows the formula. I totally enjoyed the ride you took me on for this prompt. Your instincts for conclusions and your flair with language show; your only “need to improve” is punctuation. Otherwise, perfect!