Technology in Ancient Europe (STS1)

Ancient Europe Science

Vertical Water Wheel (c. 50 BCE)• Roman engineer

Vitruvius perfects the modern, vertical water wheel.

• It is used as a source of energy.

• It is also used for sawing wood, shaping iron, boring pipes, crushing sugar, and pressing linseed oil.

Windmill (62 CE)

• First invented by Heron of Alexandria

• This invention led to the birth of steam power

Gunpowder (1242)

• Roger Bacon was the first to describe the formula for making gun powder.

• Made up of Sulphur (S), Potassium nitrate (KNO3), and charcoal

• Guns soon followed.

Western European Handgun

English Cannon

• First used in Southern Iberia by the Moors in the 11th and 12th centuries (Seige of Cordoba)

Gutenberg Printing Press (15th Century AD)

• A movable printing technology invented by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany

• The metal type pieces were more durable and the lettering was more uniform, leading to typography and fonts

• Uses oil- based ink

Alcohol Distillation(12th Century AD)

• clay tablets detail recipes for beer were found in Babylonia

• There were about 20 kinds of beer recipes found.

• Made up from medicinal plants which were added to beer to make both the drink and the medication taste better.

Paper (11th Century)

• Uses hemp and linen rags as source of fiber

• The rapid expansion of European paper production was truly enhanced by the invention of the printing press and the beginning of the Printing Revolution in the 15th century.

Paintings (15th Century AD)Leonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Creation of Adam

Other inventions

First Steam Engine Lycurgus Cup

HourglassSpinning Wheel

Mechanical Clock