The advent and development of such class of technical systems as electrical machines is only one element of those composing the technical progress, which, in turn, is one of elements composing the human civilization. Technical progress can be imaged as an entanglement of many «streams», each containing the development, putting in use, operation, and disappearance of a technical system. Technical progress is advanced through practical implementation of a multitude and variety of improvements. Any technical system is developed through embodying various ideas, which results in a change of a given system or development of a new system. An attempt is made to briefly describe all significant elements in the evolution of electrical machines (EMs). The role of large inventions and moderate improvements is shown; examples of evolution trends, patterns and lines are given; the evolution of EMs in the «supersystem-system-subsystem coordinate axes is described, and it is shown how applications determine the requirements for EMs. Examples of the evolution of the materials used in EMs are considered. The role of individuals, teams, and organizations is discussed. Particular examples of evolution lines are given, and the counterforces and limitations are described.