- Simple stone tools such as hand axes, scrapers, and choppers made of flint, obsidian, and other hard stones.
- Tools made from animal bones, antlers, and teeth.
Bronze Age (3,000 to 1,200 BCE):
- Bronze tools and weapons, made by combining copper and tin.
- Tools such as axes, chisels, hammers, saws, and sickles.
- Introduction of the plow, allowing for more efficient agriculture.
Iron Age (1,200 BCE to 500 CE):
- Iron tools and weapons, stronger and more durable than bronze.
- Tools such as plows, hammers, tongs, anvils, and nails.
- Development of the bellows, allowing for higher temperatures in metalworking.
Ancient Rome (500 BCE to 500 CE):
- Highly advanced engineering and construction tools.
- Tools such as aqueducts, bridges, roads, and temples.
- Use of water mills and windmills for grinding grain.
- Invention of the printing press, allowing for the reproduction of books and documents.
Middle Ages (500 to 1500 CE):
- Continued use of iron tools, with further refinement and specialization.
- Development of water-powered mills for various tasks, such as grinding grain and forging metal.
- Invention of the compass, enabling more accurate navigation.
- Introduction of the astrolabe, used for astronomy and navigation.
Renaissance (14th to 17th century):
- Significant advancements in science and technology leading to new tools.
- Invention of the telescope, allowing for the study of celestial objects.
- Development of the microscope, enabling the examination of tiny organisms.
- Creation of mechanical clocks, leading to more accurate timekeeping.
Industrial Revolution (18th to 19th century):
- Power-driven machinery transformed production and industries.
- Steam engine, the driving force behind various industrial machines.
- Spinning jenny and power loom for textiles, revolutionizing clothing production.
- Watt's steam engine, significantly increasing efficiency and power.
Modern Era (20th century onwards):
- Scientific and technological advancements led to a vast array of tools.
- Electrical tools and appliances revolutionized daily life.
- Introduction of computers, significantly impacting work, communication, and information access.
- Development of specialized tools for specific fields such as medicine, engineering, and construction.