Why not, the ale (and bread) standard is one of the more effective means of comparing prices from different time periods.

I'm thinking largely in terms of agriculture and industry, and how they impact daily life. Okay, I'm actually looking at a much broader range of areas:
refinement and use of metals and other materials
fuels (coal, charcoal, kerosene, etc.)
building construction and materials
optics/glass
transportation
food preservation/refrigeration
agriculture
mass production
health care
clothing
environmental controls
sanitation

That's actually a small portion of my list. What key advancements or resources would impact these areas?

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