A car is a vehicle used to transport passengers. Cars usually have four wheels and an internal combustion engine. The earliest automobiles recorded were actually steam engines attached to wagons in the late 18th century. The steam engines were heavy and therefore the wagon was slow and hard to control. Better and faster steam cars became common late in the 19th century.Karl Benz invented the modern automobile. He used a four-stroke type of internal combustion engine to power his "Motorwagen". He began to sell his production vehicles in 1888.
During the period of industrialization, the first affordable automobile called Ford Model T was massively produced and people could then travel to any places that they wish without relying on public transportation. The automobile industry gained a huge amount of wealth as the demand for cars increased when people discovered its convenience. The arrival of car also signified a greater damage to the environment in which carbon dioxide is directly polluting the air.
Automobile represents a turning point in the history of transportation technology. Not only did it enabled faster travel and more convenient transportation, it accelerated the pollution to the environment. However, despite its negative impact, automobile does makes trade, commerce, and transportation a lot easier compared to ancient technology such as lateen ship and camel saddles. I think it is an artifact that must be included in period five due to its significant contribution since the industrialization until today.
SPICE
Interaction between human and environment- technology: The negative impact of automobile is that it pollutes the environment by spreading CO2 into the air. Resolution such as the invention of electronic automobile is taking place to decrease the damages caused by steam cars.
Cultural- With the widespread of automobiles, people could travel to more places and the interaction between people in different region increased.
Economic- industrialization: Automobile is definitely one of the most important inventions created during industrialization that changed the way people and goods move.
left: Ford Model T (source: wikipedia)
right: modern car
The Impact of the Automobile on the 20th Century. (2015). Retrieved from
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