Let’s look at the qualifying General Purpose Technologies that man created before the computer: GPT Spillover Effects Date Classification Domestication of plants Neolithic Agricultural Revolution 9000-8000 BC Process Domestication of animals Neolithic Agricultural Revolution, Working Animals 8500-7500 BC Process Smelting of Ore Early metal tools 8000-7000 BC Process Wheel Mechanization, Potter’s wheel 4000-3000 BC Product Writing Trade, Record keeping 3400-3200 BC Process Bronze Tools & Weapons 2800 BC Product Iron Tools & Weapons 1200 BC Product Water wheel Inanimate power, Mechanical systems Early Middle Ages Product Three-Masted Sailing Ship Discovery of the New World, Maritime Trade, Colonialism 15th Century Product Printing Knowledge economy, Science education, Financial credit 16th Century Process Factory systems Industrial Revolution, Interchangeable arts Late 18th Century Organization Steam Engine Industrial Revolution, Machine Tools Late 18th Century Product Railways Suburbs, Commuting, Flexible location of factories Mid 19th Century Product Iron Steamship Global agricultural trade, International tourism, Dreadnought Battleship Mid 19th Century Product Internal Combustion Engine Automobile, Airplane, Oil Industry, Mobile warfare Late 19th Century Product Electricity Centralized power generation, Factory electrification, Telegraphic communication Late 19th Century Product Automobile Suburbs, Commuting, Shopping Centers, Long-distance domestic tourism 20th Century Product Airplane International tourism, International sport leagues, Mobile warfare 20th Century Product Mass Production Consumerism, Growth of U.S. economy 20th Century Organization 72