Ancient engineers' inventions : precursors of the present

This book describes inventions and designs of engineers from 300 B.C. to 1600 A.D., with a handful of exceptions from before and after. The inventions are documented by archaeological finds and range from those very well known to some hardly known at all.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Rossi, Cesare (Author), Russo, Flavio, 1947- (Author)
Format Electronic eBook
LanguageEnglish
Published [Cham] : Springer, [2017]
EditionSecond edition.
SeriesHistory of mechanism and machine science ; v. 33.
Subjects
Engineering > History.
elektronické knihy
electronic books
Online AccessFull text
ISBN9783319444765
9783319444758
ISSN1875-3442 ;
Physical Description1 online resource (xvii, 420 pages : illustrations (some color))

Cover

Table of Contents:
  • 1. Representing and measuring the environment
  • Elevations, plan and sections
  • Protohistoric drafting machine for the clay tablets engraving
  • 2. Measuring mass
  • The balance scale
  • The steelyard balance
  • 3. Measuring distance and slope
  • Jacob's staff
  • Range finders
  • Groma
  • Surveyor's cross
  • Chorobate
  • The astrolabe
  • THe Dioptre by Heron
  • Odometer by Vitruvius
  • Odometer by Heron
  • 4. Measuring time
  • The sundial
  • Water clocks
  • 5. Orientation
  • The sundial compass
  • The Chinese south-pointing chariot
  • The windrose and the magnetic compass
  • 6, Ancient computation devices
  • The abacus
  • The mesolabio
  • Eratosthenes
  • The solution by Hippocrates and the mesolabio by Dürer
  • The mechanism of Antikitera
  • Planetariums in ancient literature
  • 7. The natural energy used in antiquity
  • Energy from man
  • Energy from animals
  • The capstan
  • The treadwheel
  • 8. Wind motors
  • The wind mills
  • The Afghan mill
  • The Cretan mill
  • Wings on the sea : the sails
  • Sail rig
  • The Chinese junk
  • The Flettner rotor
  • 9. Hydraulic motors
  • Water wheels with vertical axis
  • The Greek mill
  • Water wheels with horizontal axis
  • The floating mill
  • Water wheels in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
  • 10. Refrigeration and heating
  • Wind towers
  • Production of ice
  • Nero's sherbet
  • Wheat pits
  • Heating and thermal baths
  • Energy saving : the sun chimney heating and thermal baths
  • 11. The production of water
  • The air well
  • The dew basin
  • The qanat
  • Distillation
  • 12. Lifting water
  • Archimedes' screw
  • Norias
  • Scoop wheel
  • Chain norias
  • Chain pumps
  • Reciprocating pumps
  • 13. Adduction and distribution of water
  • Open ducts
  • Penstocks
  • The great cisterns
  • The Piscina Mirabilis at Miseno
  • Piezometric turrets
  • Pipes
  • Valves
  • Hydraulic mining
  • The technique of "ruina montium"
  • 14. Underwater activities
  • Scuba divers
  • Diving bell
  • 15. Transports
  • Roman charts
  • Horse shoeing
  • Railed cargo
  • The rails of Pompeii
  • Ancient self-propelled vehicles
  • Hero of Alexandria
  • Giovanni Fontana
  • Francesco Di Giorgio Martini
  • Leonardo Da Vinci
  • Early ball bearings
  • Transport by water
  • Paddle wheeled boats
  • Pneumatic boats
  • Cableways
  • The dawn of the flight in the antiquity
  • Legends and tales
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Greece and Hellenic civilization
  • The Middle Ages
  • The Renaissance
  • Ancient rockets.
  • 16. Telecommunications
  • Acoustic
  • Carrier pigeons
  • Optical telecommunications systems
  • Image modification
  • Brilliancy modification
  • LIghthouses
  • The water telegraph
  • 17. Medicine and health
  • Medical assistance provided by Legionaries
  • Reconstructive plastic surgery
  • Early penicillin
  • Beginning of biological warfare
  • 18. Secondary motors
  • Cranes and tackle
  • Gravity driven elevators
  • Siege towers
  • The trebuchet
  • Flexion elastic motors
  • Torsion elastic motors
  • Throwing machines operated by torsion motors
  • The ballista
  • The catapult
  • The onager
  • The cheiroballistra
  • Mechanics of the throwing machines
  • Pneumatic motors
  • Small spring motors
  • Ancient steam engines
  • Heron's steam turbine
  • The architronitro
  • 19. Spinning and weaving
  • The spinning wheel
  • Mechanical spinning
  • The spinning jenny
  • The spinning frame by Arkwright
  • The mule by Crompton
  • The ring frame
  • Automatic weaving
  • Programmable looms
  • Automatic loom
  • 20. Some applications of the fire
  • Fire ignition
  • Optical flints
  • Marine fire : the roman candle
  • Wind lanterns
  • Fire for warming
  • Domestic heating
  • Thermal heating systems
  • Ancient samovar
  • Fire for warfare
  • Burning mirrors
  • Flamethrowers
  • Incendiary projectiles
  • Protection from fire : asbestos
  • 21. Automata (automation and robots)
  • The Hellenist Age
  • Heron of Alexandria
  • The Roman Empire : the repeating catapult
  • The Middle Ages
  • Al Jazari and the Arabs
  • The astronomic clock of Strasbourg
  • The Renaissance
  • The 18th century
  • The 19th century
  • Automata of the Far East
  • 22. Some ancient building techniques
  • Stone buildings
  • Opus siliceum : opus poligonalis
  • Opus quadratum
  • Concrete buildings
  • Opus caementitium
  • Opus incertum
  • Opus quasi reticulatum
  • Opus reticulatum
  • Opus latericium
  • Opus spicatum
  • Opus mixtum
  • Opus vittatum : opus listatum
  • considerations on the polygonal work
  • Construction criteria
  • Theories on the reasons for polygonal work
  • Polygonal bridges
  • Earthquake-resistant buildings with wooden ribs
  • Seismic isolators.

Similar Items