70,000 years ago (Seven hundred past generations)
approximately 10 to 15 thousand breeding humans walked the earth.
Ten thousand people occupy approximately one
tenth of the average football stadium of today and I have difficulty creating a
family tree with more than three generations.
Today’s world
population is said to be over seven billion with over 314 million in the United
States.
The thought
of these first humans building shelters or habitats inspired me to research the
Internet (Google searches by “History of” and topic) for discoveries and
innovations contributing to Building Construction and ultimately Real Estate.
Here are my
findings:
The earth’s surface
has approximately 196,939,900 square miles.
Oceans comprise approximately 70 per cent of the earth’s surface or approximately
137,857,930 square miles and the remaining land is 59,081,970 sq miles.
These first humans owned a lot of land.
Earth has
been divided into five continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and
Europe); but some say seven continents (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia,
Europe, North America and South America).
Africa, Asia
and Europe BC discoveries included the Hammer (Stones for striking wood and
bone), Drill (pointed rock spun between hands) and Tongs (sticks for handling
fires) were the first tools followed by the Shovel (Ox shoulder blades used to
move soil and rock), Saw, Rope (from water reed fibers) and bronze nails. The most significant America discoveries are
AD via Europe.
Here are a
few of the most significant (in my opinion) contributions in chronological
order by continent:
Africa 2.4
Mil to 400 BC |
Asia 10000
to 1000 BC |
Europe 6400
to 300 BC |
|
Hammer
|
Concrete (Natural)
|
Lead
|
|
Fire
|
Calculator (of
Transactions)
|
Ax
|
|
Tongs (pliers)
|
Clay Roof Tiles
|
Pliers (Tongs)
|
|
Drill
|
Water Wells
|
Copper
|
|
Rope
|
Copper
|
Windows (Glass)
|
|
Nails
|
Plaster
|
Plumbing
|
|
Saw
|
Bricks
|
Architecture
|
|
Welding
|
Tin
|
Brass
|
|
Shovel
|
Bronze
|
Concrete mix
|
|
Candles
|
Wheel
|
Paint
|
|
Glass
|
Pliers (Tongs)
|
Asphalt
|
|
Lock
|
Iron Production
|
Chisel
|
|
Air Conditioning
|
Pulley (Rope and
Wheel)
|
Marble and Granite
|
|
Electricity
|
Cisterns
|
Lever
|
|
Paint
|
|
Engineers
|
|
Marble and Granite
|
|
|
|
CAD (Mathematical Theory)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Europe 600
to 1949 AD |
America 1585
to 1975 AD |
|
|
Crane (wheel, pulley
and rope)
|
Clay Roof Tiles
|
|
|
Toilet
|
Fireplace
|
|
|
Real Estate Law
|
Flushing toilet
|
|
|
Classifying nail sizes
|
Indoor plumbing
|
|
|
Electricity (Discovery
of)
|
Concrete Blocks
|
|
|
Fireplace
|
Telephone
|
|
|
Slide Rule
|
Asphalt Pavement
|
|
|
Wood Shingles
|
Electric Power Plant
|
|
|
Screws
|
Furnace
|
|
|
Circular Saw
|
Concrete Block Machine
|
|
|
Aluminum
|
Air Conditioning
|
|
|
Welding Tool
|
Asphalt Shingles
|
|
|
Portland Cement
|
Backhoe
|
|
|
Telegraph
|
Internet
|
|
|
Fax Machine
|
CAD Software
|
|
|
Telephone (Like device)
|
Calculator
(Commercial)
|
|
|
Wrench
|
Personal Computer
|
|
|
Tower Crane
|
|
Apparently no
significant contributions associated with the advancement of building
construction since 1975.
Comments
welcome with any overlooked and/or additional contributions to the Building
Construction and/or Real Estate Industries.