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.
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"[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"
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.
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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,
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,
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,
By
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
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THE sources of power available in classical antiquity were severely limited by comparison with those of the present day. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
undershot wheel, overshot wheel, stone shot Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hero of Alexandria, Hellenistic Greek, Rio Tinto New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THE sources of power available in classical antiquity were severely limited by comparison with those of the present day. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
undershot wheel, overshot wheel, stone shot Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hero of Alexandria, Hellenistic Greek, Rio Tinto New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 13
books:
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70
books
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- Greek Science by Benjamin Farrington on page 202, and Back Matter
- History of Technology (2nd Annual Volume) by A. Rupert Hall in Back Matter
- Roman Aqueducts And Water Supply by T Hodge in Back Matter
- Ministry of Defence: Prices Paid for Spare Parts: [Hc]: [1992-93]: House of Commons Papers: [1992-93] by Great Britain in Back Matter
- Greek and Roman Mechanical Water-Lifting Devices: The History of a Technology by John Peter Oleson in Back Matter
See all 13 books this book cites
- A History of Engineering in Classical and Medieval Times by Donald Hill on 4 pages
- Stronger than a Hundred Men: A History of the Vertical Water Wheel (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology) by Terry S. Reynolds on page 353, page 355, and page 416
- Pan's Travail: Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans (Ancient Society and History) by J. Donald Hughes in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Greek and Roman Technology: A Sourcebook: Annotated Translations of Greek and Latin Texts and Documents (Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World) by John W. Humphrey in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Front Matter (3)
- Greek and Roman Technology: A Sourcebook: Annotated Translations of Greek and Latin Texts and Documents (Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World) by John W. Humphrey in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
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