50 things you should know about inventions - Clive Gifford

Every aspect of modern life has beenshaped by the ideas of ingenious inventors,many of them tinkering away in smallworkshops or even their garden sheds.Packed with facts and figures, discoverthe masterminds behind some of theworld's most incredible inventions.

In the ancient world, philosopher Archimedesdesigned new machines for farming.

Duringthe Renaissance, artist Leonardo da Vincisketched his ideas for wondrous flyingmachines. Scientist James Watt providedideas that would power the IndustrialRevolution, while American inventorThomas Edison patented more than 1000
inventions that would shape modern life,including the movie camera and theelectric light bulb. Today's inventors stillexplore ideas for new and clever technology,producing miniature machines that we canonly see under a microscope. Step inside theworld of invention and see where it mighttake us next...