Week 12 Inventions

I learned about four inventions this week which all have had an impact on history.

The first invention I learned about this week is the Trebuchet.  The Trebuchet is a catapult like device that hurls projectiles.  It has a leaver, a counterweight, and a sling. It impacted history because Kublai Khan used the Trebuchet to conquer China and as a result he made the U.N. dynasty.            

The next invention is Distilled Spirits.  Distilled Spirits are fermented drinks that have undergone distillation.  Distilled Spirits were used as a treatment for the Black Death.

The third invention is the Vertical Windmill. The Vertical Windmill converts wind into power.  The Vertical Windmill helped grind grain into flour for villages that did not have water mills because they were not near water.  This meant that more towns could rely on themselves for food instead of relying on big cities for food.

The final invention is the Stern-Mounted Rudder.  It is like a fin that helps steer the boat.  The Rudder is used on boats which make it easier to steer boats without oars and enabled boats to sail further which helped in the discovery of America which shaped the world. 

To summarize, these four inventions have helped shape the world and are still used today.