Product Description Discover the amazing inventions throughout history that have shaped the world as we know it.This stunning visual guide explores and explains the greatest inventions, ideas, and discoveries throughout the ages, and introduces their inventors. From fire, stone tools, and the wheel to ploughs and paper, discover the first inventions that shaped societies and grew mighty civilizations and empires such as those in ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and ancient China.In the centuries that followed, "Eureka" moments abounded, with James Watt's steam engine during the Industrial Revolution, Henry Ford's car assembly line at the start of the 20th century, the Wright brothers' flying machines, Thomas Edison's light bulb, John Logie Baird's television, and so much more.Read about era-defining moments during the Digital Revolution, such as the first website developed by Tim Berners-Lee, and the growth in the use of robotics in industry and at home.Inventions: A Visual Encyclopedia reveals the stories behind the crucial and quirky contraptions products of the world's most brilliant minds. From School Library Journal Gr 4-6-This panoramic view of significant inventions covers everything from a 1.5 million-year-old hand ax to futuristic Masdar City, a carbon footprint-free metropolis in the United Arab Emirates, scheduled to be completed in 2030. Grouped several per page and more or less chronologically within seven color-coded categories such as "space," "communication," and "at home," entries each include a color photo or historical image; name, date, and country of origin (where known); and a brief description. Along with occasional side boxes and time lines, select figures (polymath Zhang Heng; computer visionary Ada Lovelace) earn closer looks. Several dozen additional profiles of other inventors are gathered together in a closing section. Occasional nods to bubble gum and breakfast cereal, the bra, traveler's checks, the sandwich, and similar sidelights jazz up the parade of technological marvels. VERDICT There are no resource lists in this title, but the high-quality images and a topical rather than chronological or alphabetical arrangement make this substantial survey most suitable for middle and upper elementary grade browsers.-John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. About the Author DK was founded in London in 1974 and is nowthe world leading illustrated reference publisher and a member of the Penguin Random House division of Bertelsmann. DK publishes highly visual, photographic non-fiction for adults and children. DK produces content for consumers in over 100 countries and over 60 languages,withoffices in theUK, India, US, Germany, China, Canada, Spain and Australia.DK's aim is toinspire, educate and entertainreaders of all ages, and everything DK publishes, whether print or digital, embodies the unique DK design approach. DK brings unrivalled clarity to a wide range of topics, with a unique combination of words and pictures, put together to spectacular effect. We have a reputation for innovation in design for both print and digital products.Our adult range spans travel, including the award-winning DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, history, science, nature, sport, gardening, cookery and parenting.DKs extensive childrens list showcases a fantastic store of information for children, toddlers and babies. DK covers everything from animals and the human body, to homework help and craft activities, together with an impressive list of licensing titles, including the best-selling LEGO books.DK acts as the parent company for Alpha Books, publisher of theIdiot's Guides seriesand Prima Games, the worlds leading publisher of strategy content for PC and console video games.