Technologies to Serve Technologies to Serve CivilizationCivilization

People in the past were highly People in the past were highly creative and inventive creative and inventive

Why is it so difficult for some people Why is it so difficult for some people to accept the technological to accept the technological sophistication of cultures of the past?sophistication of cultures of the past?

Whether its Aliens or Atlantians, many Whether its Aliens or Atlantians, many pseudoarchaeologists seek out a pseudoarchaeologists seek out a more complicated and strange world more complicated and strange world than actual evidence will support.than actual evidence will support.

Many different technologies:

Specialized just as today.

Pyramids: products of mysterious forces or just basic engineering?

Lets begin with pyramids.

Available PowerAvailable Power

HumanHuman WaterWater AnimalAnimal WindWind

Just a few applicationsJust a few applicationsfor daily lifefor daily life

PotteryPottery GlassGlass Metallurgy Metallurgy ConstructionConstruction Weapons & siege Weapons & siege

enginesengines Food collecting and Food collecting and

processingprocessing Clothing manufactureClothing manufacture DefenseDefense

Power generationPower generation Lift and haulingLift and hauling The artsThe arts Seafaring*Seafaring* Adhesives, paints, Adhesives, paints,

cements, solventscements, solvents Mathematics, surveyingMathematics, surveying TransportationTransportation Sanitation engineeringSanitation engineering Medical devices.Medical devices.

Take home messageTake home message

Ancient peoples highly sophisticated, Ancient peoples highly sophisticated, intelligent and innovative.intelligent and innovative.

Many modern technologies merely Many modern technologies merely modified or refined forms of ancient modified or refined forms of ancient technology.technology.

Only fundamental difference Only fundamental difference between present and past is our between present and past is our power source.power source.

The real question is not about how The real question is not about how the ancient peoples were able to the ancient peoples were able to achieve technological sophistication achieve technological sophistication and achievements in science or and achievements in science or engineering, but why have we made engineering, but why have we made such little progress since then until such little progress since then until the past century?the past century?

MECHANISMS AND MECHANISMS AND ENGINEERING ENGINEERING

Did the Egyptians require extraterrestrial assistance to Did the Egyptians require extraterrestrial assistance to build the pyramids?build the pyramids?

Aliens depicted in tomb painting?

Or, a misinterpreted image?

Pyramid construction theory (current)

Refer to article posted on course website.

Additional ideas: this ramp exceeds 5% grade. Not feasible.

Hero’s engine. Early application of steam power.

Applied to opening doors of temples .

Antikethera

Mechanism.

150 BC ?

X-ray of mechanism. 37 parts.

Computer for calculating calendars of the moon and sun.

See pdf article posted on course website.

waterwheels

aqueducts

Sophisticated understanding of hydraulics, tunneling, engineering, and physics.

Galls making.

Metallurgy.

Metal working, bronze casting.

Corinthian helm

Model figures from Egyptian tomb. Making beer.

Roman road construction.

Roman self draining raods are still in use today in many parts of Europe.

Numeral systems dating to 2500BC

Babylonian world map.

ca. 500 BC

Stone work.

Types of tools available for stone work.

Architecture. Design, aesthetics, construction management.

Interpretation of Greek man-powered crane.

Egyptian stone working tools.

Harbor complex. Extensive use of hydraulic cement. Forgotten technology

re-”invented” in 19th century AD.

Cesarea maritima.

Animal power in agriculture, war, the plow, harness, sickle…

Machines of war.

Chariot of King Tut.

Architectural arch.

Combined technologiesCombined technologies

Many Roman roads still in use. Many Roman roads still in use. Invented odometer, invented mile, Invented odometer, invented mile,

measured speed in miles per hour on measured speed in miles per hour on carts.carts.

Maintained by army for easy troop Maintained by army for easy troop transport. transport.

Health and fitness.

Mosaic from Pompeii, 79 BC

Manufacturing thread and cloth.

Obelisks. How were these raised? Many weigh in at more than 200 tons and measure more than 60 feet in length.

Weapons of siege.

Greek rapid fire automatic reloading cross bow.

Designed by Dionysius of Syracuse, 399 BC.

Exhibits major breakthroughs in machanics.

Assyrian siege ram.

Roman catapult

Misc.Misc.

Babylonians invented the 60 minute hour Babylonians invented the 60 minute hour and 60 second minute.and 60 second minute.

Egyptians invented the 24 hour dayEgyptians invented the 24 hour day

The Suez Canal dug in 1869 to link the The Suez Canal dug in 1869 to link the Mediterranean with the Red Sea was not Mediterranean with the Red Sea was not the first. Darius of Persia did it in 522 BC. the first. Darius of Persia did it in 522 BC. Evidence for an even earlier version dated Evidence for an even earlier version dated to at least 1470 BC.to at least 1470 BC.

Many questions remainMany questions remain

Did the Babylonians discover a way to Did the Babylonians discover a way to produce electricity? (the so-called Baghdad produce electricity? (the so-called Baghdad Battery.)Battery.)

Did Sumerians invent the telescope and Did Sumerians invent the telescope and microscope?microscope?

Were the Harappans the first to invent toilets?Were the Harappans the first to invent toilets? Who dug the 170,000 miles of underground Who dug the 170,000 miles of underground

aqueducts in Iran (still used today)?aqueducts in Iran (still used today)? So many more questions…one offs are So many more questions…one offs are

difficult to appraise scientifically.difficult to appraise scientifically.