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Book Cover
E-book
Author Rossi, Cesare.

Title Ancient Engineers' inventions : precursors of the present / Cesare Rossi, Flavio Russo, Ferruccio Russo
Published Dordrecht : Springer, ©2009

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Description 1 online resource
Series History of mechanism and machine science ; v. 8
History of mechanism and machine science ; v. 8.
Contents Measuring mass -- Measuring distance -- Measuring time -- Ancient computation devices -- Wind motors -- Hydraulic motors -- Lifting water -- Adduction and distribution of water -- Underwater activities -- Lift and transports -- Telecommunications -- Secondary motors -- Spinning and weaving -- Some applications of fire -- Automata (towards automation and robots) -- Considerations on some ancient building techniques
Summary This book describes the inventions and designs of ancient engineers who are the precursors of the present. The period ranges mainly from 300 B.C: to 1600 A.D. with several exceptions. Many of the oldest inventions are documented by archaeological finds, often very little known, mainly from Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae and reveal a surprising modernity in their conception. Most of the inventions presented in the first four parts of the book were conceived up to the late Roman Empire and may be considered as milestones, each in their respective field. The fifth part concentrates on more recent centuries. The sixth part deals with some building construction techniques. Generally, for each of the presented inventions, three elements of research and reference are provided: written documents (the classics), iconic references (coins, bas-reliefs, etc.) and archaeological findings. The authors did not write this book for engineers only; hence they describe all the devices without assuming wide technical knowledge. The authors' main aim is to try to communicate their enthusiasm for the inventions and the inventors of the past and to contribute to the fascinating study of the History of Engineering
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Print version record
In Springer eBooks
Subject Inventions -- History -- To 1500
Engineering -- History -- To 1500
Technology -- History -- To 1500
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING -- Engineering (General)
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING -- Reference.
Engineering -- History -- To 1500.
Technology -- History -- To 1500.
Inventions -- History -- To 1500.
Sciences sociales.
Sciences humaines.
Engineering
Inventions
Technology
Ingenieurwissenschaften
Erfindung
Technik
Antike
archaeology.
engineering.
history (discipline)
Griechenland Altertum
Römisches Reich
Genre/Form History
Form Electronic book
Author Russo, Flavio, 1947-
Russo, Ferruccio, 1980-
ISBN 9789048122530
9048122538
904812252X
9789048122523