For more than 200 years, human progress has moved in waves. Each wave starts with a new technology, builds into a force that reshapes economies and daily life, and then gives way to the next.
Economists call these long cycles of change innovation cycles or waves. Each cycle transformed how people live, work, and connect. From water-powered mills to steam engines and the artificial intelligence systems of tomorrow, these periods of rapid change constantly push society forward.
In this gallery, we look at each of these cycles and how they shape our past, present, and future. Click to learn more.