Introduction In the world there are a few inventions without which our lives would not have been the same. In their time they changed history and provoked innovations that had important consequences for our society. Without them, the economy, science, medicine, transport and culture would not have evolved in the same way.

Introducción En el mundo hay unos pocos inventos sin los cuales nuestra vida no hubiera transcurrido de la misma manera. En su momento cambiaron la historia y precipitaron novedades que tuvieron consecuencias importantes en las distintas sociedades. Sin ellos, la economía, la ciencia, la medicina, los transportes o la cultura no hubieran evolucionado igual.