The wheel has undoubtedly been among the most significant of human inventions. Prior to its invention, population growth was limited, because people could not move easily to find more food and water once their resources had been diminished. The population in any area had to remain small enough for the land to support that group indefinitely. Only small quantities of goods could be transported, so trade was not common. Many other tasks which are basic to our way of life today could not be accomplished without the wheel.

The wheel has had many uses throughout human history. One of the earliest was the potter's wheel, which first appeared in Egypt around 3000 B.C. Wheels have also been used as winches to draw water up from wells or anchors up onto a ship, as waterwheels and windmills to generate power, as grinding mills, as pulleys...