Reading the following sentence:
The 20th century presented a large number of inventions to advance US society by improving upon the status of 19th-century society
I wonder why it's neccesary to use "upon" next to "improve". Why not only use "improve"?
The full context is:
For example, if your general assignment is to write about the changes in inventions over time, and your specific thesis claims that “the 20th century presented a large number of inventions to advance US society by improving upon the status of 19th-century society,” you could brainstorm two different lists to ensure you are covering the topic thoroughly and that your thesis will be easy to prove.
Best Answer
Apple improved the iPod by adding a color display.
CD's improved upon vinyl records by providing more capacity in a smaller, more durable format.
The 20th century society is not the 19th century society. It is a new thing, related to the 19th century society, but better.