Story perspectives
Sawmill: The First Industrial Machine That Changed History
12/8/2025
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Story summary
- Jaime Dávila argues in his book that the mechanised sawmill invented by Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593 is the world’s greatest invention.
- The book says the sawmill let the Dutch produce timber for shipbuilding faster, aiding Europe’s maritime dominance.
- Dávila calls it "mankind’s first true industrial machine."
- Forgotten: How One Man Unlocked The Modern World will be published on December 18, 2025.
