Engineering in the Ancient World, Revised Edition / Edition 1

by J. G. Landels

Overview

In his classic book, J. G. Landels describes the technological advances of the Greeks and Romans with erudition and enthusiasm. He provides an important introduction to engineering, writing about power and energy sources, water engineering, cranes, and transportation devises. From aqueducts to catapults, he attempts to envision machines as they may have worked in the ancient world. He then traces the path of knowledge taken by early thinkers—including Plato, Pliny, and Archimedes—in developing early theories of engineering and physics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520227828
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	10/27/2000
Edition description:	First Edition, With a revised preface, a new appendix, and a new bibliography
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

J. G. Landels, now retired, was a Senior Lecturer in Classics at Reading University. His work, in collaboration with the Engineering Department, involved making working replicas of ancient machines and testing them in the field.

Table of Contents

1. POWER AND ENERGY SOURCES
Man-power
Animal power
Water power
Wind power
Steam power

2. WATER SUPPLIES AND ENGINEERING
Appendix- The sizes of measurement nozzles, and
Frontinus' arithmetic.

3. WATER PUMPS

4. CRANES AND HOISTS

5. CATAPULTS

6. SHIPS AND SEA TRANSPORT
Appendix-Methods of estimating the
maximum speeds of oared vessels

7. LAND TRANSPORT

8. THE PROGRESS OF THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

9. THE PRINCIPAL GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS
ON TECHNOLOGICAL SUBJECTS
Hero of Alexandria
Vitruvius
Frontinus
Pliny

APPENDIX: THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A TRIREME
SOME FURTHER THOUGHTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Editorial Reviews

When Landels wrote the first edition (1978), he was a classicist (Reading U., England) working with the engineering department to make working replicas of ancient machines and testing them in the field. For students of classical civilization and lay readers interested in the history of technology or in bewildering the police at street demonstrations, he offers insight into the mechanical skills of ancient Greece and Rome. He has left the main text untouched, but appended how to built a trireme and some additional thoughts and expanded and updated the bibliography to some extent. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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