The Dutch Sawmill: A Forgotten Invention That Changed the World's Course
In a fascinating tale of innovation and ingenuity, a little-known invention from 16th century Netherlands has been revealed as the world's first industrial machine. The credit goes to Cornelis Corneliszoon, an inventor who converted rotary motion into linear motion in his sawmill, paving the way for major breakthroughs in maritime trade and commerce.
Cornelis' ingenious design used a rotating disc with two pins and rods, which created up-and-down motion when the wheel turned around. By pinning one end of a rod to the disc and another to a guide, he successfully converted rotary motion into linear motion. This concept was later applied in various ways - pushing logs horizontally along carriages and vertically down onto them for sawing.
The impact of this invention was far-reaching. The Dutch sawmill played a pivotal role in building many boats and establishing a great trading nation that would eventually become the foundation of New York City's settlement. The technological advancements made possible by Cornelis' innovation not only shaped global commerce but also forever changed the world's course.
While it may seem like a minor detail in history books, the story behind this forgotten invention serves as a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. As one historian notes, the Dutch sawmill "unlocked the modern world," setting off a chain of events that reshaped global politics, economy, and society.
The book "Forgotten: How One Man Unlocked The Modern World" by Jaime Dávila explores this fascinating story in depth, shedding new light on a pivotal moment in history. It's a reminder that even the most overlooked innovations can have profound effects on our world today.
In a fascinating tale of innovation and ingenuity, a little-known invention from 16th century Netherlands has been revealed as the world's first industrial machine. The credit goes to Cornelis Corneliszoon, an inventor who converted rotary motion into linear motion in his sawmill, paving the way for major breakthroughs in maritime trade and commerce.
Cornelis' ingenious design used a rotating disc with two pins and rods, which created up-and-down motion when the wheel turned around. By pinning one end of a rod to the disc and another to a guide, he successfully converted rotary motion into linear motion. This concept was later applied in various ways - pushing logs horizontally along carriages and vertically down onto them for sawing.
The impact of this invention was far-reaching. The Dutch sawmill played a pivotal role in building many boats and establishing a great trading nation that would eventually become the foundation of New York City's settlement. The technological advancements made possible by Cornelis' innovation not only shaped global commerce but also forever changed the world's course.
While it may seem like a minor detail in history books, the story behind this forgotten invention serves as a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. As one historian notes, the Dutch sawmill "unlocked the modern world," setting off a chain of events that reshaped global politics, economy, and society.
The book "Forgotten: How One Man Unlocked The Modern World" by Jaime Dávila explores this fascinating story in depth, shedding new light on a pivotal moment in history. It's a reminder that even the most overlooked innovations can have profound effects on our world today.
So I'm reading about this Dutch sawmill guy Cornelis and I'm thinking, what does his invention really say about our current trade policies? Like, how did the Netherlands' maritime dominance lead to the rise of global commerce, but also created opportunities for other countries to catch up? It's interesting to consider how Cornelis' design was a game-changer in its time, but also how it laid the groundwork for the complex trade agreements we see today. 
Like, it makes sense now why the Netherlands were so ahead back in the day... they basically pioneered modern trade and commerce. And to think about how that one guy Cornelis came up with this idea on his own - no government funding or anything, just pure innovation 
. I wonder if anyone's gonna re-make a sawmill now like a startup 
! to think that something as simple as a rotating disc and some rods could change the course of history is mind-blowing 
. it's amazing how one person can have such a huge impact on the world, and it just goes to show that innovation and perseverance can take you places 
. i'm totally gonna check out that book now, thanks for sharing this awesome story! 
. This whole "Dutch sawmill changed the world" thing seems like just another example of revisionist history trying to make some random 16th century Dutch dude out to be a superhero 
. I mean, come on, an invention that just converts rotary motion into linear motion? That's it? 
It's not like he discovered gravity or something 
.
. Like, think about it - without this invention, we probably wouldn't have all those modern boats and ships that are still sailing around today. And if the Dutch hadn't become so dominant in maritime trade, who knows what would've happened to NYC? It's wild to think about how one little innovation can have such a huge impact on history 
now we take it for granted but that rotary motion to linear motion tech was pure genius 
history books need a major update imo 
? Like, it changed the game for maritime trade and commerce and stuff. Can't say I'm surprised though, humans have always been pretty clever 
.
like can you believe how revolutionary its design was back then? 
this book sounds so interesting, gotta add it to my reading list 
I've been reading a lot about Cornelis lately, and it's amazing to see how his ingenuity has inspired new generations of inventors and entrepreneurs. This book "Forgotten" sounds like a must-read for anyone interested in history or innovation... 
but at the same time, what about all the other people who contributed to the whole maritime trade thing? shouldn't they get some recognition too? 
i mean, i guess the sawmill was a big deal and all... but is it really the "world's first industrial machine"? 
didn't someone else come up with that somewhere around the same time? 
. I mean, think about it, without this little guy we wouldn't have the modern world as we know it today 
? I'm all about celebrating those unsung heroes 
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. and it's so cool that we're learning more about Cornelis' story now and realizing that even the most overlooked inventions can change everything 
.
and our boats wouldn't have been able to travel across oceans so easily... anyway, this book "forgotten" is def worth a read if you're as intrigued by this topic as i am 
- who knew that's where it all started? 
- it's crazy to think about how one small invention can have such a huge ripple effect