In the beginning, architecture was synonymous with survival. Early empires built walls to keep enemies out and to define their territory. Inventions including the arch (which was first created by the Romans) and the steel frames that support skyscrapers have elevated architecture to an art form. This book looks at the innovations responsible for architecture as we know it in the order they were invented. It also demonstrates how these inventions shaped each other and how they have wider applications, including the potential to change the way we power our lives.