A History of Engineering in Classical and Medieval TimesIt is impossible to understand the cultures and achievements of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs, without knowing something of their technology. Rome, for example, made advances in many areas which were subsequently lost and not regained for more than a millenium. This is a knowledgeable yet lucid account of the wonderful triumphs and the limitations of ancient and medieval engineering. This book systematically describes what is known about the evolution of irrigation works, dams, bridges, roads, building construction, water and wind power, automata, and clocks, with references to the social, geographical, and intellectual context. |
Contents
Irrigation and Water Supply | 17 |
Dams | 47 |
Bridges | 61 |
Roads | 76 |
Building Construction | 98 |
Surveying | 116 |
Power from Water and Wind | 155 |
Instruments | 183 |
Automata | 199 |
1a Concentric Siphon | 209 |
Clocks | 223 |
| 248 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Ages Al-Istakhri al-Jazari appear aqueducts Arabic arch axle bridge building built called canals carried centre century channel Chapter circle clepsydra clock complete consisted construction course described devices discharge drum early Egypt Empire engineering Europe evidence example feet Figure fitted float flow gears given Greek head History hole horizontal important invention iron irrigation Islam Italy known later London lower machines masonry material means mechanical medieval mentioned method metres Middle mills moving Muslim needed operated origin passed period pipe placed plate possible probably problems reference reservoir river roads Roman rotated side similar soldered Spain stone structure supply tank techniques treatise turned upper usually vertical vessel Vitruvius wall water-clocks weight wheel wide wooden