Topic 6 Technology in Classical Greece

I. Introduction

Basic theme: technology for art and play, not for utilitarian purposes.

II. Building and Construction Technologies

A. Materials used

B. Structures (Different orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian)

Art and architecture of ancient Greece--lots of links to pictures and information

III. Inventors and Inventions (Useful and Useless)

A. Ktesibios (ca. 270 BC) and pumps

B. Hero (ca. 60 A.D.) and automatic theater, steam turbine

C. Locks and water screws

1. Archimedes (287 B.C. - 212 B.C.)
2. Exceptions: Useful Technology
3. Work of Archimedes
4. Pottery
5. Technology for Warfare
    

Topic 7 Technology in Classical Rome

I. Introduction: Characteristics of Roman Technology

Contrasts with Greek technology--very pragmatic and useful for the common folk.
Map of Roman empire

II. Road building technology

A. Why needed?

B. Construction techniques

 

Layers of Roman Roads

 

Always used		summa crusta     8-12" shaped stone
Always used		nucleus              12-18" high   quality concrete
Sometimes used		rudus   10-12" compacted clay or low quality concrete
		stratumen 12-24".  Stone in cement or mortar
		4" sand or 1" cement or mortar
		subgrade (soil)

III. Building construction

A. Major invention: the arch
B. Examples of Roman architecture: Coliseum, Pantheon.

IV. Aqueducts--massive technology for the people

A. Design and construction

B. Frontinus and organization of water system

Roman engineering

Topic 8 The "Failure" of Ancient Technology

I. Introduction

Basic argument: Ancient Greeks and Romans had sophisticated technology and knowledge of principles for power machinery, but they did not use all their resources (mental and material) to develop a mechanical or industrial society. Thus, they "failed."

II. Causes of failure

A. Climate of opinion--intellectual view of laborers and artisans: not conducive for promoting labor-saving technologies.

B. Use of investment capital--not for machinery but for land.

C. Markets for goods--an industrial society that produces large quantities of goods needs markets that can absorb them.

D. Raw materials--were they available easily and in sufficient quantities?

E. Use of environment--did the ancients know how to manage their environment for maximum industrial output?

F. Water power--water needs to be constantly available for this capital intensive technology. Was it and would the technology be cost-effective?
 

Review: Themes from first part of this course

Topic 9 Transition to Medieval Technology and The Energy Revolution

I. From "Failure" to "Success"--Basic factors aiding "advance" of medieval technology

A. Political developments in medieval times

B. Factors aiding technology

1. Religion and end of animism

2. New work ethic

3. Change

            C. Importance of technology flow from Eastern civilizations

General information on the Middle Ages,  Lots of links to medieval technologies, More general info on medieval technology

II. The Medieval Revolution in Energy Sources and Uses
The Domesday Book, a source of information on English life and technology

    A. Water Power

1. Different types of water wheels: horizontal; under-, over-, and breast-shot wheels

2. Specialization of wheels (Good text and pictures of how watermills worked)

3. Spread of water power
History of waterwheels,

    B. Wind power
English windmills, with descriptions of the types of mills below

1. Post mills
2. Tower mills

     C. New attitudes about power

Aside on medieval pollution

General website on medieval technology.  Large number of subjects

Medieval Timeline

Also see this web timeline, with links to medieval technologies.

Topic 10 The Agricultural Revolution

I. The Plow

A. New design
B. Advantages over old plow
C. Social impact of new plow
Plows, harrows, and hoes

II. The "discovery" of horse power

A. The horseshoe
B. New harness

III. Completion of the Agricultural Revolution: 3 field system

A. Advantages of using 3 fields
B. New foods--"The Middle Ages were full of beans."
C. Improved diets, increased production, and population growth.

Advances in medieval agricultural technology, the medieval technological revolution (from course taught by Pam Mack, Clemson University, formerly at Virginia Tech)

Two-field system

	Field 1	Field 2
Year 1	Fall crop	Fallow
Year 2	Fallow	Fall crop

Three-field system

	Field 1	Field 2	Field 3
Year 1	Spring crop	Winter crop	Fallow
Year 2	Fallow	Spring crop	Winter crop
Year 3	Winter crop	Fallow	Spring crop

 

Topics 11 and 12 Medieval Military Technology

I. The invention and use of the stirrup

A. New use of the horse (Legacy of the horse)
Stirrups--a lost Indian invention?  How the stirrup changed the world.  More on stirrups.  Controversy about stirrups.

B. Social impact: feudalism and shock combat
Medieval warfare

II. Bow development and use

A. Crossbow of 10th century through 14th century

B. Longbow of England--mid-13th century
History and making of the bow  More history of longbow, and more.

C. Advantages and disadvantages of different bows

III. Introduction of firearms

A. Gunpowder invention and production
B. Cannons

C. The Arquebus--15th century "mobile" firearm
Gunpowder weapons in the late 15th century
Impact of gunpowder on medieval civilization

IV. Development of new fortifications

A. Fortifications before gunpowder weapons

B. Fortifications after gunpowder weapons

C. Impact on engineering profession
  Castles in England and Wales

 

General overview of military technology to 18th century.

General website on medieval technology.

Topic 13 Clocks and Culture

I. Origins of timepieces

A. Sand and Water clocks
Sundials and water clocks             
Chinese clocks 

B. New need for timing in the middle ages

II. Developments in Clockwork mechanisms

A. Weight driven clocks (verge and foliot; escapement)
B. Spring driven clocks (fusee mechanism)

C. Pendulum clock: an early application of science to technology

III. Social impact of clocks

A. Popularity ("ultimate" technology; precise technology; "orderliness of clocks)

B. Changing behavior as a result of clocks

C. Clock as symbol of age:

"The clock, not the steam engine, is the key machine of the modern industrial age.... In its relationship to determinable quantities of energy, to standardization, to automatic action, finally to its own special product--accurate timing--the clock has been the foremost machine of modern [technology]. And at each period it has remained in the lead. It marks a perfection towards which other machines aspire." (Lewis Mumford)

A history of clocks, with links Another set of good web pages on "A Walk Through Time"

Wooden clocks 

Topic 14 The Printing Press and Medieval Society

I. Background--Necessary prerequisites

A. Demand for printed goods

B. Development of paper

II. Invention of Moveable Type

    A. Printing blocks

1. Origins

2. Gutenberg (1400-1467) and moveable type (More on Gutenberg)
The Development of Print Technology, A page from the Gutenberg Bible
 A print shop

    B. Development of Ink

III. Impact of printing press

A. Transmission of knowledge easily

B. Transmission of knowledge quickly

C. Reduced authority of established order

Social impact of the printed book 

Topic 15 Mining and Metallurgy in the Middle Ages, 1450-1700

I. Reasons for new efforts in mining and metallurgy
Agricola sites: Site 2, Site 3 (in German)

A. New view of mining activities

B. Growth of trade and capitalism (need for silver and gold as money)

C. Metals needed for new technologies

II. Growth of mining industries
Silver mining in England and Wales Copper mining in the middle ages

III. Mining and Metallurgical techniques
Mining History Network-links to other resources

A. Mining techniques

B. Smelting
Smelting furnace Blast Furnaces in Germany

C. Assaying

D. Alloys and applications

E. Innovations in 1600s

Topic 16 The "Success" of Medieval Technology

I. Criteria for Success

A. Climate of Opinion

B. Investment Capital

C. Markets for Goods

D. Exploitation of Mechanical Power

II. Review/discussion: comparison between medieval Europe and present day USA

Summary of second section of course

Topic 17 Origins of Modern Technology: A New Intellectual Framework for Technology

I. Understanding Nature: the Mechanical Philosophy and Technology

A. F. Bacon (1561-1626) and Scientific Method

1. Search for Discoveries

2. Inductive Method

3. Impact on other scientists

B. Galileo, Science, and Technology

1. Nature is mathematical

2. Machines can be analyzed "scientifically"

3. Strength of Materials

II. Practical Applications during the Scientific Revolution

A. Discovery of the Atmosphere--Torricelli

B. Atmosphere can do work--von Guericke

Topic 18 Background to the Industrial Revolution in England

I. Changes that characterized the industrial revolution

A. Energy sources

B. Sources of motive power

C. Basic building materials

D. Forms of production and division of labor--Factory system

E. Transportation systems

F.  Agricultural systems

G. Communications systems

II. Why did the industrial revolution begin in England?

A. Raw Materials

B. Capital

C. Markets

D.  Industrial tradition
E. Agricultural innovations

    1. Four-crop system

    2. New crops

    3. Enclosure movement

    4. New implements

    5. Improvements in stockbreeding
    Stockbreeding

Names: Jethro Tull (1674-1741), Robert Bakewell (1725-1795)
Classic lectures on the industrial revolution by Arnold Toynbee, 1884
Industrial revolution overview
Origins of the Industrial Revolution

Four-field System