Technologies to Serve Civilization People in the past were highly creative and inventive

Why is it so difficult for some people to accept the technological sophistication of cultures of the past? Why is it so difficult for some people to accept the technological sophistication of cultures of the past? Whether its Aliens or Atlantians, many pseudoarchaeologists seek out a more complicated and strange world than actual evidence will support. Whether its Aliens or Atlantians, many pseudoarchaeologists seek out a more complicated and strange world than actual evidence will support.

Many different technologies: Specialized just as today. Pyramids: products of mysterious forces or just basic engineering? Lets begin with pyramids.

Available Power Human Human Water Water Animal Animal Wind Wind

Just a few applications for daily life Pottery Pottery Glass Glass Metallurgy Metallurgy Construction Construction Weapons & siege engines Weapons & siege engines Food collecting and processing Food collecting and processing Clothing manufacture Clothing manufacture Defense Defense Power generation Power generation Lift and hauling Lift and hauling The arts The arts Seafaring* Seafaring* Adhesives, paints, cements, solvents Adhesives, paints, cements, solvents Mathematics, surveying Mathematics, surveying Transportation Transportation Sanitation engineering Sanitation engineering Medical devices. Medical devices.

Take home message Ancient peoples highly sophisticated, intelligent and innovative. Ancient peoples highly sophisticated, intelligent and innovative. Many modern technologies merely modified or refined forms of ancient technology. Many modern technologies merely modified or refined forms of ancient technology. Only fundamental difference between present and past is our power source. Only fundamental difference between present and past is our power source.

The real question is not about how the ancient peoples were able to achieve technological sophistication and achievements in science or engineering, but why have we made such little progress since then until the past century? The real question is not about how the ancient peoples were able to achieve technological sophistication and achievements in science or engineering, but why have we made such little progress since then until the past century?

MECHANISMS AND ENGINEERING Did the Egyptians require extraterrestrial assistance to build the pyramids?

Aliens depicted in tomb painting? Or, a misinterpreted image?

Pyramid construction theory (current)

Refer to article posted on course website.

Additional ideas: this ramp exceeds 5% grade. Not feasible.

Hero’s engine. Early application of steam power. Applied to opening doors of temples.

Antikethera Mechanism. 150 BC ?

X-ray of mechanism. 37 parts. Computer for calculating calendars of the moon and sun. See pdf article posted on course website.

waterwheels aqueducts

Sophisticated understanding of hydraulics, tunneling, engineering, and physics.

Galls making.

Metallurgy.

Metal working, bronze casting. Corinthian helm

Model figures from Egyptian tomb. Making beer.

Roman road construction.

Roman self draining raods are still in use today in many parts of Europe.

Numeral systems dating to 2500BC

Babylonian world map. ca. 500 BC

Stone work.

Types of tools available for stone work.

Architecture. Design, aesthetics, construction management.

Interpretation of Greek man-powered crane.

Egyptian stone working tools.

Harbor complex. Extensive use of hydraulic cement. Forgotten technology re-”invented” in 19 th century AD. Cesarea maritima.

Animal power in agriculture, war, the plow, harness, sickle…

Machines of war.

Chariot of King Tut.

Architectural arch.

Combined technologies

Many Roman roads still in use. Many Roman roads still in use. Invented odometer, invented mile, measured speed in miles per hour on carts. Invented odometer, invented mile, measured speed in miles per hour on carts. Maintained by army for easy troop transport. Maintained by army for easy troop transport.

Health and fitness. Mosaic from Pompeii, 79 BC

Manufacturing thread and cloth.

Obelisks. How were these raised? Many weigh in at more than 200 tons and measure more than 60 feet in length.

Weapons of siege. Greek rapid fire automatic reloading cross bow. Designed by Dionysius of Syracuse, 399 BC. Exhibits major breakthroughs in machanics.

Assyrian siege ram.

Roman catapult

Misc. Babylonians invented the 60 minute hour and 60 second minute. Babylonians invented the 60 minute hour and 60 second minute. Egyptians invented the 24 hour day Egyptians invented the 24 hour day The Suez Canal dug in 1869 to link the Mediterranean with the Red Sea was not the first. Darius of Persia did it in 522 BC. Evidence for an even earlier version dated to at least 1470 BC. The Suez Canal dug in 1869 to link the Mediterranean with the Red Sea was not the first. Darius of Persia did it in 522 BC. Evidence for an even earlier version dated to at least 1470 BC.

Many questions remain Did the Babylonians discover a way to produce electricity? (the so-called Baghdad Battery.) Did the Babylonians discover a way to produce electricity? (the so-called Baghdad Battery.) Did Sumerians invent the telescope and microscope? Did Sumerians invent the telescope and microscope? Were the Harappans the first to invent toilets? Were the Harappans the first to invent toilets? Who dug the 170,000 miles of underground aqueducts in Iran (still used today)? Who dug the 170,000 miles of underground aqueducts in Iran (still used today)? So many more questions…one offs are difficult to appraise scientifically. So many more questions…one offs are difficult to appraise scientifically.