Ancient Engineers' Inventions - Precursors of the Present

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the First Edition

Contents

1 Representing and Measuring the Environment

Abstract

1.1 Elevations, Plan and Sections

1.2 Protohistoric Drafting Machine for the Clay Tablets Engraving

1.3 Examples of Planimetries from the IV Millennium B.C. to the 1st Century A.D.

1.3.1 Plan of Egyptian Fortress, IV Millennium B.C

1.3.2 Plan View, Front View and Sections: Inventions Over the Time

1.3.3 Planimetries on Sumerian Tablets of the III Millennium B.C.

1.3.4 Plan of a Sumerian Retaining Wall, on Stone, 2150 B.C. Time

1.3.5 Plan for the Mausoleum of a Rural Roman Home, I c. A.D.

1.3.6 Anthropometric and Mathematical Units of Measurement

1.4 Ancient Units

1.4.1 Ancient Greek Units

1.4.2 Ancient Roman Units

2 Measuring Mass

Abstract

2.1 The Balance Scale

2.2 The Steelyard Balance

3 Measuring Distance and Slope

Abstract

3.1 Jacob’s Staff

3.2 Range Finders

3.2.1 Groma

3.2.2 Surveyor’s Cross

3.2.3 Chorobate

3.3 The Astrolabe

3.4 The Dioptre by Heron

3.5 The Ancient Odometers

3.5.1 The Odometer by Vitruvius

3.5.2 The Odometer by Heron

4 Measuring Time

Abstract

4.1 The Sundial

4.1.1 Fixed Sundials

4.1.1.1 Equatorial Sundials

4.1.1.2 Horizontal Sundials

4.1.1.3 Vertical Sundials

4.1.1.4 Non Planar Sundials

4.1.2 Portable Sundials

4.2 Water Clocks

4.2.1 Early Water Clocks

4.2.2 The Water Clock by Ctesibius

5 Orientation

Abstract

5.1 The Sundial Compass

5.2 The Chinese South-Pointing Chariot

5.3 The Windrose and the Magnetic Compass

6 Ancient Computation Devices

Abstract

6.1 The Abacus

6.2 The Mesolabio

6.2.1 The Mesolabio of Eratosthenes

6.2.2 The Solution by Hippocrates and the Mesolabio by Dürer

6.3 The Mechanism of Antikitera

6.3.1 The History of the Finding

6.3.2 Description of the Mechanism

6.3.3 Technological Aspects

6.3.4 Planetariums in Ancient Literature

7 The Natural Energy Used in Antiquity

Abstract

7.1 Energy from Man

7.2 Energy from Animals

7.2.1 Two or More Animals Together

7.3 The Capstan

7.4 The Treadwheel

7.5 Rough Evaluation of the Power from a Wind Motor

7.6 Rough Evaluation of the Power from a Waterwheel

7.6.1 Undershot Waterwheel

7.6.2 Overshot Waterwheel

7.6.3 Breast Waterwheel

7.6.4 Power from a Waterwheel

8 Wind Motors

Abstract

8.1 The Wind Mills

8.1.1 The Afghan Mill

8.1.2 The Cretan Mill

8.2 Wings on the Sea: The Sails

8.2.1 Evolution of the Sail Rig

8.2.2 The Chinese Junk

8.2.3 The Flettner Rotor

9 Hydraulic Motors

Abstract

9.1 Water Wheels with Vertical Axis

9.1.1 The Greek Mill

9.1.2 Vertical Axis Rotor with Oblique Blades

9.2 Water Wheels with Horizontal Axis

9.2.1 Undershot Water Wheels—The Wheel of Venafro

9.2.2 Overshot Water Wheels

9.3 The Floating Mill

9.4 Water Wheels in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

10 Refrigeration and Heating

Abstract

10.1 Air Cooling with Wind Towers

10.2 The Production of Ice

10.3 Nero’s Sherbert

10.4 Wheat Pits

10.5 Heating and Thermal Baths

10.6 Energy Saving: The Sun Chimney Heating and Thermal Baths

11 The Production of Water

Abstract

11.1 The Air Well

11.2 The Dew Basin

11.3 The Qanat

11.4 Distillation

12 Lifting Water

Abstract

12.1 The Early Devices

12.2 The Archimedes’ Screw

12.3 Norias

12.3.1 Scoop Wheel

12.3.2 Chain Norias

12.4 Pumps

12.4.1 Chain Pumps

12.4.2 Reciprocating Pumps

13 Adduction and Distribution of Water

Abstract

13.1 Open Ducts

13.2 Penstocks

13.3 The Great Cisterns

13.3.1 The Piscina Mirabilis at Miseno

13.4 Water Distribution Systems

13.4.1 Piezometric Turrets

13.5 Pipes

13.5.1 Dimensions of the Lead Pipes

13.6 Valves

13.6.1 Shut off Valves

13.6.2 Single Control Mixers

13.7 Hydraulic Mining

13.7.1 The Technique of “Ruina Montium”

13.7.2 Historical References

14 Underwater Activities

Abstract

14.1 Scuba Divers

14.2 Diving Bell

15 Transports

Abstract

15.1 Roman Charts

15.1.1 Horse Shoeing

15.2 Railed Cargo

15.3 The Rails of Pompeii

15.4 Ancient Self-propelled Vehicles

15.4.1 Hero of Alexandria

15.4.2 Giovanni Fontana

15.4.3 Francesco Di Giorgio Martini

15.4.4 Leonardo Da Vinci

15.5 Early Ball Bearings

15.6 Transport on Water

15.6.1 Early Paddle Wheeled Boats

15.6.2 Pneumatic Boats

15.7 Cableways

15.8 The Dawn of the Flight in the Antiquity

15.8.1 Legends and Tales

15.8.1.1 Daedalus and Icarus: Legend or Reality?

15.8.1.2 Daedalus and Icarus in the Far East

15.8.2 Ancient Egypt

15.8.3 Ancient Greece and Hellenic Civilization

15.8.4 The Middle Ages

15.8.5 The Renaissance

15.8.6 Ancient Rockets

16 Telecommunications

Abstract

16.1 Acoustic

16.2 Carrier Pigeons

16.3 Optical Telecommunication Systems

16.3.1 Systems Based on Image Modification

16.3.2 Systems Based on Brilliancy Modification

16.4 Lighthouses

16.5 The Water Telegraph

17 Medicine and Health

Abstract

17.1 Medical Assistance Provided to Legionaries

17.2 Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

17.3 Early Penicillin

17.4 The Beginning of Biological Warfare

18 Secondary Motors

Abstract

18.1 Cranes and Tackle

18.2 Gravity Driven Elevators

18.3 Siege Towers

18.3.1 Possible Internal Motors

18.3.1.1 Capstan

18.3.1.2 Threadwheel

18.3.1.3 Counterweight Motor

18.3.2 The Motion of the Tower

18.4 The Trebuchet

18.5 Flexion Elastic Motors

18.5.1 Metal Spring Flexion Elastic Motors

18.6 Torsion Elastic Motors

18.7 Throwing Machines Operated by Torsion Motors

18.7.1 The Ballista

18.7.1.1 The Euthytone Ballista

18.7.1.2 The Palintone Ballista

18.7.2 The Catapult

18.7.3 The Onager

18.7.4 The Cheiroballistra

18.8 Mechanics of the Throwing Machines

18.8.1 The Torsion Motor

18.8.1.1 The Elastic Energy

18.8.1.2 The Stress in the Hairs

18.8.2 The Models and the Performances of the Machines

18.8.2.1 The Ballista and the Catapult

Euthytone

Palintone

18.8.2.2 The Catapult

18.8.2.3 The Onager

18.8.2.4 The Cheiroballista

18.9 Pneumatic Motors

18.9.1 The Air Spring Ballista

18.10 Small Spring Motors

18.10.1 Locks and Padlocks

18.11 Ancient Steam Engines

18.11.1 Heron’s Steam Turbine

18.11.2 The Architronitro

19 Spinning and Weaving

Abstract

19.1 The Dawn of Spinning and Weaving

19.2 The Spinning Wheel

19.3 The Mechanical Spinning

19.3.1 The Spinning Jenny

19.3.2 The Spinning Frame by Arkwright

19.3.3 The Mule by Crompton

19.3.4 The Ring Frame

19.4 The Automatic Weaving

19.4.1 The First Programmable Loom

19.4.2 The Programmable Looms of the 18th Century

19.4.3 The Automatic Loom

20 Some Applications of the Fire

Abstract

20.1 Fire Ignition

20.1.1 Optical Flints

20.2 Marine Fire—The Roman Candle

20.3 Wind Lanterns

20.4 Fire for Warming

20.4.1 Domestic Heating

20.4.2 Thermal Heating Systems

20.4.3 Ancient Samovar

20.5 Fire for Warfare

20.5.1 Burning Mirrors

20.5.2 Flamethrowers

20.5.2.1 The Flamethrower by Thucydides

20.5.2.2 A Probable Single Cylinder Pump Flamethrower

20.5.3 Incendiary Projectiles

20.6 The Protection from Fire: The Asbestos

21 Automata (Towards Automation and Robots)

Abstract

21.1 The Hellenistic Age

21.1.1 Heron of Alexandria

21.1.2 The Roman Empire: The Repeating Catapult

21.2 The Middle Ages

21.2.1 Al Jazari and the Arabs

21.2.2 The Astronomic Clock of Strasbourg

21.3 The Renaissance

21.4 The 18th Century

21.5 The 19th Century

21.6 Automata of the Far East

21.7 Between the Two Millenniums

22 Some Ancient Building Techniques

Abstract

22.1 Stone Buildings

22.1.1 Opus Siliceum—Opus Poligonalis

22.1.2 Opus Quadratum

22.2 Concrete Buildings

22.2.1 Opus Caementitium

22.2.2 Opus Incertum

22.2.3 Opus Quasi Reticulatum

22.2.4 Opus Reticulatum

22.2.5 Opus Latericium

22.2.6 Opus Spicatum

22.2.7 Opus Mixtum

22.2.8 Opus Vittatum—Opus Listatum

22.3 Considerations on the Polygonal Work

22.3.1 Construction Criteria

22.3.2 Theories on the Reasons for Polygonal Work

22.3.3 Polygonal Bridges

22.4 Earthquake-Resistant Buildings with Wooden Ribs

22.5 Seismic Isolators

22.6 Consideration on Ancient Concrete

Bibliography

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Index