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What technology would you give to ancient people just to fuck with them? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by python@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I'd give laser pointers to Neanderthals. Even if they did figure out some useful application for them (maybe hunting?) they'd run out of batteries eventually.

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[–] Olap@lemmy.world 22 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Something with gears. Like a cranked egg whisk. Huge amounts of science went into this, but all of it should be replicable in a few generations of experiment with even bronze working. And it should inspire inventors of the age too

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 3 weeks ago

Or wood. Mills used wooden peg gears to great effect for a long time.

The bigger challenge is to have enough jobs worth doing with gears to keep craftsmen trained, since making a smooth turning gear by hand is a thing. If this is Rome, there will be, but they already had some knowledge of gears. If it's cavemen there's not a chance.