Best Pre 19th Century Invention

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What is the best invention from before the 19th century?

Rules:
- Cannot have been invented in 19th/20th/21st century
- Can be fire or wheel but please try to think of something else
- Cannot be something which exists or occurs naturally
- Bonus points if we still use it today

What I can think of myself right now is:
Alphabet and numbers

The printing press combined with movable type. That's my first pick.

Archimedes' screw... moves water up hill.

Reinforced concrete... invented by the Romans... they called it Opus Reticulatum.
Roman roads, viaducts, aqueducts. Public baths. Arches, domes. Coins. Wine, beer.

Urns... loads of urns.

Telescopes, mirrors, ships' anchors, rudders.

Pulleys, levers...

And... the trebuchet... not used today but they are seriously cool.

The printing press

Playing Cards. I think they originated in the middle east (I think maybe in Persia? Not sure...) and were introduced to Europe centuries ago. Great for gambling AND fortune telling!

Bicycle Playing Cards are a popular brand that was invented on the USA in the 1850's.

♡◇ ♧♤

The clock.

Was going to reply that! Clocks were once the cutting edge of technology.

Another good invention was the pipe organ. They were originated by ancient times and used in theaters--much as they were in a more refined form during the 1910s and '20s as accompaniment to the photoplays.

I'm small so I still use levers for mechanical advantage. All the time.

In terms of being a game-changer? Agriculture (/animal husbandry). Without the large and consistent surplus of food to support members of society dedicating themselves to pursuits other than food production, none of the other inventions would have arisen.

Artificial Flowers were invented im China many centuries ago and were originally made of fine silk.

Agreed on the printing press and all other inventions mentioned on this thread

The Pointed Stick: A piece of straight wood sharpened to a point, or with a hard point (antler, bone or stone) affixed to one end. With it, you can keep your enemies at bay, heard cattle, draw in the sand, and bring down big game.

Agriculture: When people began planting crops, they had to stay in one place to tend those crops. This led to communities of farmers, with the development of laws, customs, and other civilized behaviors.

The pointed stick sharpener... without which the pointed stick would not have been possible.