String is better than wheels
2025-07-13
Obviously looking at the real history of the development of technology as if it's a tech tree in a video game is a little bit silly, but it's also a little bit fun and I'm going to do it anyway. For some reason, the invention of the wheel is considered to be the cornerstone big development in human technology when it just, wasn't? Wheels are only really useful for two things: moving heavy things and spinning pottery.
Wheels for transport are really strong don't get me wrong. Chariots were a pretty huge game changer in war, and carts also let you transport goods and people further which is good for expanding trade. But all of this assumes a particular environment. Wheeled transport is next to useless:
- In rocky, mountainous terrain (you're gonna want a donkey or mule)
- In a sandy desert (camels are OP)
- In the snow (you need a sled)
- In bogs and marshland (I guess a boat?)
- In dense forest (you gotta use your legs here)
As for pottery, pottery wheels are good, they do make better pottery, but it's not like pottery as a whole is locked behind wheels. You can get along just fine without wheels.
You know what invention was actually game-changing near universally?
String is better than wheels
You can invent fishing rods and nets which are much better than spear fishing. Snares for catching small animals. Nets are also useful for tying cargo together. Take a net, put it up between two trees, boom, hammock. Clothes don't fit well? Drawstring.
Hmm if only I could throw this object faster and further, I would be much better and hunting. Introducing brand new inventions: slings and bows. (slings are another underrated technology). Take a bow, turn it sideways, bow drill. Now you can drill holes in things and start fires much easier.
My pointy stick sucks because wood is not very hard. With string, now I can tie a sharp rock to my big stick and I have a much better spear!
Use string to tie some logs together you've got yourself a raft.
Want to make a long straight line? You can use string for that. Want to make a circle? Tie the string down on one end and you can make precise circles. Now that you have precise lines and circles you can unlock all kinds of geometry using maths.
Tie a weight to one end of the string, you've basically got a plumb bob. You can make things level now.
Put a string in some wax you've got a candle.
Pull a string taut and pluck it, now you can play music.
These are just some of the uses of string. There are many more. The invention of string, twisting fibres together, was objectively much more important and universal than wheels.