Top 20 Most Important Inventions Of All Time

These inventions altered the course of human history. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the most critical creations, inventions, objects, and tools created by humans throughout history. Our countdown of the most important inventions of all time includes the Printing Press, Refrigeration, the Internet, Vaccination, The Wheel, and more! What invention do you think was the most important? Tell us in the comments!

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[WatchMojo]

What invention do you think was the most important? Tell us in the comments!

[bradleyj.fortner]

I'd say that fire was more of a discovery than an invention. I'd also say that the wheel should have been number one.

[TRO]

This list is INSANE for missing indoor plumbing. I can live without a stupid compass. I can't live without running water!

[lindabarnhouse]

The printing press should at least be in the Top Five!

[nathansefchick]

Don't get me wrong. (I know people will) But, the wheel NEEDS an axle to become efficient. The axle doesn't get enough credit.😁 If not, I can go cut a log at the end and make a wheel.

[mindbuilder]

The spear and sword. Even more than the gun, it shaped our world.

[AndreaDoesYoga]

Wow, it's amazing how these inventions shaped our world! 🌎🔬

[CTP]

I'd say everything on this list as well as some other ones were significantly more important than the clock

[nrsrymj]

Air conditioning and refrigeration, for comfort, food preservation, and crucially, directly or indirectly cooling the data centers that make the Internet happen.

[liamsavarese]

I would have thought that shipping would be on this important inventions list since some of the other important discoveries wouldn’t be here if the invention of ships weren’t discovered

[batgurrl]

We harnessed ‘elements’ of electricity. Too bad you didn’t expand it to 21 because you left out the invention of flight which truly changed EVERYTHING, both good and bad

[mncdssctn]

Beer is the most important invention. I guess the wheel was important too, but wheel don’t really go as good with pizza.

[kain]

I've worked at Harvard and seen that Gutenberg Bible. It is a thing of Beuty!

[HarrietThugman]

Wait mathematics (algebra) is one of the most important inventions, so was the written language ( alphabet).

[emiliomartinez]

There are some inventions here that wouldn't had invented without the printing press. The mass spread of idea would be impossible without the printing press, it should in the top 2.

[paulnorton]

Indigenous peoples in many places have used fire to transform and steward landscapes to improve the quantity and availability of food sources, also increasing biodiversity. Australian First Peoples' use of fire to steward country has been the most important factor in the evolution of Australian ecosystems over the last 65, 000 years.

[calvin]

Honorable mention of plumbing with bringing water to the cities and handling and disposing of waste. Also mechanical discoveries like levers and ropes.

[awesomeman]

Television should at least get an honorable mention.

[josearellano]

I am interested in all of this. Johann Gutenberg was named the most influential person of the 2nd millennium by A&E. The transistor, the computer, the toilet, plumbing and means of transportation also are so important. Thanks to the printing press we have tablets and the Internet today. The newspaper is becoming obsolete now.

[johnserino]

Wow, things have really changed since I've gone to school.
Now we think the printing press is the 20th most important invention, behind the telegraph and even the internet?
There would be none of almost all of the other inventions without books. And the widespread availabiltiy to both the Bible and manuals is unreasonable.
Very, very inaccurate in my opinion.