Imagine taking a trip back in time to see the world as it was. In 1884, architecture looked very different. This chart displayed the tallest buildings in the world at that point:
The tallest structure in the world had not yet been completed. It was the Washington Monument!
You can also see why the pyramids were so impressive. They had been completed almost 5,000 years earlier.
Thanks to a number of key inventions, we are now able to build ever-larger skyscrapers. Two of the most important are cement and elevators.
Here is a link to an article explaining the role of cement in the modern age: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/09/portland-cement-changed-the-way-the-world-looked/380140/
Here is an earlier blog post on the role of elevators: What is the #1 obstacle to taller buildings?
To see what the chart above would look like if you added the current world champion, the Burj Khalifa, to the mix, see below:
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