Final answer:
The invention of the steam engine revolutionized transportation, making travel across land and water much quicker and more efficient. Steam-powered locomotives and steamboats allowed for faster and safer travel, helping facilitate economic development and settlement in different regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of the steam engine revolutionized transportation in several ways. Robert Fulton's invention of the steam-powered locomotive made travel across land much quicker, as steam trains could travel faster than traditional horse-drawn carriages. Henry Shreve's modified steamboat improved water transportation by allowing for greater cargo capacity without getting stuck on the riverbed. Additionally, steam engines on steamboats and steam locomotives made travel and shipping quicker, safer, and more efficient, facilitating economic development and the settlement of the West.