I pose this question because I couldn't come up with a list of 10 important battles in world history.

I would argue that most major battles are decided well before the armies take their positions on the battlefield, and are decided not by who fought harder or had the winning gimmick that day but by who had the better technology, larger army, superior tactical doctrine, more efficient logistical system, better motivated soldiers, detailed knowledge of the enemy's OOB, etc. All of these factors are decided well before the battle begins. Even outside of events that occur on the battlefield, which country can out-produce, diplomatically outmaneuver, and simply keep their subjects motivated to fight longer than the other has an enormous effect on the course of history - far more than the outcome of any single battle. Does this mean that battles in and of themselves are historically irrelevant? I lean towards "yes" in most cases, but would be interested in hearing other opinions.