Polydore Vergil's work deals with the question of who invented what when from a Renaissance perspective. Unlike Torcelli, he wasn't too concerned with recent inventions, but cared a great deal what the classical authors had to say on the subject. The whole heurematologic tradition is substantive - Pliny's the earliest big name whose work is still extant who was in the business. This particular work was Polydore Vergil's most influential at the time, even if not particularly what he was remembered for today (A book of proverbs is what gets him attention these days, evidently). He's interesting for the range of classical sources he used, his commentaries on the subject, and the simple fact that yes, this was a successful book in his day.
(
d_benway recently mentioned Poggio Bracciolini, who translated Diodorus Siculus' history - which makes me wonder, not having done any further homework on the subject - did Polydore Vergil use Bracciolino's translation?) 