Engineering in the Ancient World [Paperback]

J. G. Landels (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520041275 | ISBN-13: 978-0520041271 | Publication Date: February 5, 1981

Studies the engineering accomplishments of the Greeks and Romans, surveying pumps, cranes, engines, ships, and transport systems employed for purposes of both peace and war.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Landels] has given a new dimension to our appreciation of Greek and Roman civilization. We are accustomed to appreciate what Greek and Roman artists, writers, and philosophers accomplished. We have not really understood what they achieved as engineers."--"Classical Outlook" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (February 5, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520041275
• ISBN-13: 978-0520041271
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #411,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient History and Engineering Come Together, May 11, 2000

By 

Ian K O'Malley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Engineering in the Ancient World (Paperback)

Mr. Landels brings together two of the world's oldest academic endeavors, history and engineering. This is short volume is a quick read yet serves as a valuable reference tool. Landels provides a wonderful historic background for each piece of technology discussed in the book. The breadth of actual technolgy is not as great as one would want (unfortunately limited to ships, lifting devises, some seige engines and water procurement machines... yet to the author's credit the actual knowledge on complex technology of the ancient world is limited) but the technology that is covered is both well explained with many diagrams and placed into a historic perspective. To this reader, the last chapter serves as an invaluable reference for the simple fact the author provides short biographies of four ancient writers; Hero, Pliny the Elder, Frontinus and Virtuvius which leaves one starving for more knowlegde of aforementioned subjects. If you have any interest in the classics, history of the ancient world or the development of technology,.... please add this to your library.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic effort, January 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Engineering in the Ancient World (Ancient Culture & Society) (Hardcover)

A very enlightening volume, although it occasionally left me behind and parts will have to be reread when I have looked up some mechanical engineering concepts- but this did not happen often enough to interrupt my enjoyment. A particularly fascinating section briefly discusses why the Greeks didn't quite get to concept of a the steam engine.

Very worthwhile and, sadly, all too brief.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engineering in the ancient world: spectacular book, July 10, 2006

By 

Michal Ruzek (Prague, Czech Republic) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Engineering in the Ancient World, Revised Edition (Paperback)

This is a very amazing which treats a rare subject. There is a lot of books about ancient times, but very few about the science put into practise in the times. This book brings very sophisticated look into the problems and successes of ancient engineers. Their solutions are somewhat ingenious, but there are also problems which could not be solved without the necessary equipment. J.G.Landers has done a great job looking into all that scarce sources related to engineering in the ancient times.
Dont hesitate and buy this book.
Michal Ruzek, Czech Republic