1. The History of Engineering

2. Outline Introduction Getting Started The Beginnings of Engineering
An Overview of Ancient Engineering
Traveling Through the Ages
The History of the Disciplines

3. Introduction
In engineering, every new innovation builds upon existing ones
Few innovations early on, but as time passed, innovations occurred more rapidly
Today it happens almost daily
History provides a big picture

4. Introduction Engineering History:
History helps us to interpret scenarios and to sort out the pros and cons of various options
Gives insights about past engineering developments
Relates current work to prior work that has been done
Gives an understand the origins of the profession
Provides insight as to how the greatest minds in history have tackled problems

5. Introduction
As an engineer, it is your responsibility to understand the past and present state of the art, as well as keep studying throughout your career
The study of history helps us understand what good qualities from the past are worth emulating

6. Definition of Engineering
According to ABET (the accreditation board for engineering and technology)‏
“The profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to use, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.”

7. Getting Started Prehistoric culture
Did not have a grasp of mathematical principles nor knowledge of natural science as we know it today
Many of their designs were built by trial and error
Spear after spear, until they perfected it
No written communication or transportation, so little info or innovation was exchanged
Each group developed on its own

8. Prehistoric Culture Physical limitations of prehistoric cultures
No written language
Verbal language was limited
No means of transportation
No separate concept of education or specialized methodology to discover new things
Hunting and gathering
Improvement came about very slowly
How does engineering impact each of these areas?

9. The Beginnings of Engineering
Foundations of engineering came from our ancestors’ efforts to survive and to improve their quality of life
They looked around their environment and saw areas where life could be made easier and more stable
Hunting, fishing, building better shelters
Day to day survival

10. The earliest days
As life became more complicated, collections of families became communities, the need grew to look into new areas of concern
Power struggles
Acquisition of land
Religious observance, etc.
Name some cultures that still live in this way today

11. Egypt and Mesopotamia
As cities grew, people who showed special aptitude in certain areas were identified and assigned certain tasks
This was a scientific breakthrough in itself!
Labeling and grouping
Dedicated time and resources for development
This created the first real engineers

13. Egypt and Mesopotamia
Between 4000 and 2000 B.C. Egypt and Mesopotamia were the focal points for engineering
Stone tools
Copper and bronze were perfected
Led to plows for farming and settling
Wheel, sailboat, methods of writing
Immediately improved the way of life

15. Egypt and Mesopotamia
During the construction of the pyramids, the number of engineers required was massive
Engineering dealt with
Dimensions and fit of the stones
Transportation of the stones
Security (against grave robbers)‏

17. Egypt and Mesopotamia
Egyptian engineers used simple tools and with great accuracy, insight and technical rigor built the pyramids
The great pyramid of khufu is the larget masonary structure every built
Base: 756 feet on each side
Height: 480 feet
Casing blocks of limestone were attached to all four sides
Casing blocks ~ 15 tons

18. Overview of Ancient Engineering
Guide from 2000 B.C. to the Present
The temples of Greece
Iktinos in Athens around 447BC and completed around 438BC

19. Overview of Ancient Engineering
Roman Road and Aqueducts
Roman Road, the Appian Way,
began around 312 BC
Connected Rome and Capua, 142 miles, and eventually reached Brundisium in southern Italy (360 miles)‏

20. Overview of Ancient Engineering
The great wall of china
220BC during the Ch’in Dynasty
Built by Emperor Shih Huang Ti to repel Mongolian invaders
The emperor and his general Meng T’ien functioned as engineers, even though this was not their primary role
3080 miles in length originally, currently 1700 miles

21. Computer Age We live in the computer age
Answers to millions of questions are at your fingertips (The Internet)‏

22. Pace of History Rate of innovation is far more rapid than in the past
Think of the first time you used a computer and think about using that computer today
“Rome was not built in one day…”
Engineering feats of the past often took several generations to accomplish