History’s Greatest Hits: The 20 Inventions That Changed Everything

This episode of RRE POV turns history into a high-stakes trivia match as Raju quizzes
Will on the 20 greatest inventions of all time. From the wheel and the compass to electricity and the computer, Will puts his historical memory to the test — nailing dates, inventors, and surprising details along the way. Together, they trace humanity’s most game-changing breakthroughs, exploring how each invention reshaped the world and paved the way for today’s technological revolutions.

Show Highlights:
(0:00) Introduction
(5:29) Writing Systems & Languages: Sumerians, Egyptians, Chinese
(7:41) The Compass: Chinese invention, global navigation
(10:53) Gunpowder: Chinese alchemists, global impact
(12:13) Printing Press: Gutenberg, mass communication
(16:06) Vaccination: Edward Jenner, public health
(18:55) Sanitation Systems: Modern sewage, clean water, public health
(25:03) Light Bulb: Edison, Swan, Davy
(25:30)Automobile: Benz, mass mobility
(26:31) Airplane: Wright Brothers, first flight
(27:16) Antibiotics: Penicillin, Alexander Fleming
(28:07) Computer: Turing, Zuse, ENIAC
(33:19) Vulcanization, PlayStation, Chick-fil-A, and other fun mentions
(36:00) Wrap-up & reflections on the impact of these inventions