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Mechanical Engineering in Antiquity

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A Brief Illustrated History of Machines and Mechanisms

Part of the book series: History of Mechanism and Machine Science ((HMMS,volume 10))

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Abstract

Like since the first man appeared on the face of the Earth, in Antiquity help was sought to overcome human physical limitations and to make the hard and most difficult tasks easier. In Antiquity, slaves were forced to carry out the most arduous tasks, but solutions were also contemplated in the form of machines or simple devices that would have replaced slaves or would have assisted them in several kinds of work. This machine design practice and activity established the first technical culture of independent competition and professional fields.

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References

  1. B. Musa, Kitab Al-Hiyal (The Book of Ingenious Devices) (9th century)

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Paz, E.B., Ceccarelli, M., Otero, J.E., Sanz, J.L.M. (2009). Mechanical Engineering in Antiquity. In: A Brief Illustrated History of Machines and Mechanisms. History of Mechanism and Machine Science, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2512-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2512-8_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-2511-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-2512-8

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