This is a 20-minute episode, representing the first effort by myself and my brother (Keith Kallmes) in creating our podcast about economic history (among other things). It is a discussion of the Old Deluder Satan Act, one of the earliest laws passed by the Massachusetts Bay Colonists, and the influence of literacy and religion on the Industrial Revolution.

The Old Deluder Satan Act

Have you ever learned about an amazing invention--whether it was the Baghdad battery or the ancient Roman steam engine or Chinese firecrackers--and wondered why it didn't do more to change the world? In this podcast, we examine a selection of curiosities and explore hypotheses for why their inventors didn't use them to full effect.

Inventions That Didnt Change The World

Listen in for 6:29 about how slimy corn roots can change the world, and how symbiosis is the key!

Kevin Kallmes