Table of Contents: Ancient Engineers' Inventions

Ancient Engineers' Inventions Precursors of the Present /

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,...

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Main Authors:	Rossi, Cesare. (Author, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/aut), Russo, Flavio. (http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/aut)
Corporate Author:	SpringerLink (Online service)
Language:	English
Published:	Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2017.
Edition:	2nd ed. 2017.
Series:	History of Mechanism and Machine Science, 33
Subjects:	Engineering design. Machinery. Technology—History. Archaeology. History. Engineering Design. Machinery and Machine Elements. History of Technology. History of Science.
Online Access:	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44476-5

Table of Contents:

Premise: Representing and Measuring the Environment
A premise: it all started with a drawing
I.1 Elevations, Plan and Sections
I.2 Protohistoric Drafting machine for the clay tablets engraving
I.3 Examples of planimetries from the IV millennium B.C. to the I century A.D.
I.4 Ancient Units
1. Measuring Mass
Introduction
1.1 The balance scale
1.2 The steelyard balance
Observations
2 Measuring Distance and Slope
Introduction
2.1 Jacob’s staff
2.2 Range finders
2.3 The Astrolabe
2.4 The dioptre by Heron
2.5 The ancient odometers
Observations
Measuring a building height by an astrolabe
Measuring the distances by the groma and by the surveyor’s cross
3 Measuring Time
Introduction
3.1 The sundial
3.2 Water clocks
Observations
4 Orientation
Introduction
4.1 The Sundial Compass
4.2 The Chinese South-Pointing Chariot Sundial Compass
4.3 The Windrose and the Magnetic Compass
5 Ancient Computation Devices
Introduction
5.1 The Abacus
5.2 The Mesolabio
5.3 The Mechanism of Antikitera
Observations
6 The Natural Energy Used In Antiquity
Introduction
6.1 Energy from man
6.2 Energy from animals
6.3 The capstan
6.4 The treadwheel
6.5 Rough evaluation of the power from a wind motor
6.6 Rough evaluation of the power from a waterwheel
7 Wind Motors
Introduction
7.1 The wind mills
7.2 Wings on the sea: the sails
7.3.3 The Flettner rotor
Observations
8 Hydraulic Motors
Introduction
8.1 Water wheels with vertical axis
8.2 Water wheels with horizontal axis
8.3 The floating mill
8.4 Water wheels in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
Observations
9 Refrigeration and Heating
9.1 Air Cooling with Wind Towers
9.2 The production of ice
9.3 Nero’s Sherbet
9.3 Wheat Pits
9.4 Heating and Thermal Baths
9.5 Energy Saving: the Sun Chimney Heating and Thermal Baths
10 The Production Of Water
10.1 The Air Well
10.2 The Dew Basin
10.3 The Qanat
10.4 Distillation
11 Lifting Water
Introduction
11.1 The early devices
11.2 The Archimedes’ screw
11.3 Norias
11.4 Pumps
Observations
12 Adduction and Distribution of Water
Introduction
12.1 Open ducts
12.2 Penstocks
12.3 The great cisterns
12.4 Water distribution systems
12.5 Pipes
12.6 Valves
12.7 Hydraulic mining
Observations
13 Underwater Activities
Introduction
13.1 Scuba divers
13.2 Diving bell
14 Transports
Introduction
14.1 Roman charts
14.2 Railed cargo
14.3 The rails of Pompei
14.4 Ancient self-propelled vehicles
14.5 Early ball bearings
14.6 Transport on water
14.7 Cableways
14.10 The dawn of the flight in the antiquity
Observations
15 Telecommunications
Introduction
15.1 Acoustic
15.2 Carrier pigeons
15.3 Optical telecommunication systems
15.4 Lighthouses
15.5 The water telegraph
Observations
16 Medicine and Health
Introduction
16.1 Medical Assistance provided to Legionnaires
16.2 Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
16.3 Early Penicillin
16.4 The Beginning of Biological Warfare
17 Secondary Motors
Introduction
17.1 Cranes and tackle
17.2 Gravity driven elevators
17.3 Siege towers
17.4 The trebuchet
17.5 Flexion elastic motors
17.6 Torsion elastic motors
17.7 Throwing machines operated by torsion motors
17.8 Mechanics of the throwing machines
17.9 Pneumatic motors
17.10 Small spring motors
17.11 Ancient steam engines
Observations
18 Spinnind and Weaving
Introduction
18.1 The dawn of spinning and weaving
18.2 The spinning wheel
18.3 The mechanical spinning
18.4 The automatic weaving
Observations
19 Some Applications of Fire
Introduction
19.1 Fire ignition
19.1.2 Optical flints
19.2 Marine fire – the Roman candle
19.3 Wind lanterns
19.4 Fire for warming
19.5 Fire for warfare
19.6 The protection from fire: asbestos
20 Automata (Towards automation and robots)
Introduction
20.1 The Hellenistic Age
20.2 The Middle Ages
20.3 The Renaissance
20.4 The XVIII Century
20.5 The XIX Century
20.6 Automata of the Far East
20.7 Between the two millenniums
Observations
21 Some Ancient Building Techniques
Introduction
21.1 Stone buildings
21.2 Concrete Buildings
21.3 Considerations on the polygonal work
21.4 Earthquake-resistant buildings with wooden ribs
21.5 Seismic isolators
21.6 Consideration on ancient concrete
Subject Index. .

Ancient Engineers' Inventions Precursors of the Present /

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