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Ancient Engineers' Inventions

PART I : MEASURING THE ENVIRONMENT: Introduction; Ancient Greek units; Length units; Area units; Volume units; Weight/mass units; Roman units; Length units; Area units; Volume units; Weight/mass units;
Chap. 1 – MEASURING MASS: Introduction; 1.1 The balance scale; 1.2 The steelyard balance; Observations;
Chap. 2 – MEASURING DISTANCE : Introduction; 2.1 Jacobs’ staff, Astrolabe; 2.2 Range finders; 2.2.1 Groma; 2.2.2 Surveyors’ cross; 2.2.3 Chorobate; 2.3 The dioptre by Heron; 2.4 The ancient odometer; 2.4.1 The odometer by Vitruvius; 2.4.2 The odometer by Heron; Observations;
Chap. 3 - MEASURING TIME : Introduction; 3.1 The sundial; 3.1.1 Fixed sundials; 3.1.1.1 Equatorial sundials; 3.1.1.2 Horizontal sundials; 3.1.1.3 Vertical sundials; 3.1.1.4 Non-planar sundials; 3.1.2 Portable sundials; 3.2 Water clocks; 3.2.1 Early water clocks; 3.2.2 The water clock by Ctesibius; Observations;
Chap. 4 – COMPUTATION DEVICES: Introduction; 4.1 The abacus; 4.2 The mesolabio; 4.2.1 The mesolabio of Heratostenes; 4.2.2 The solution by Hippocrates and the Mesolabio by Dürer; 4.3 The mechanism of Antikitera; 4.3.1 The history of the finding; 4.3.2 Description of the mechanism; 4.3.3 Technological aspects; 4.3.4 Planetariums in ancient literature; 4.3.5 A recent interesting finding; Observations;

PART II – USING NATURAL ENERGY:
Chap. 5 – WIND MOTORS: Introduction; 5.1 The wind mills; 5.1.1 TheAfghan mill; 5.1.2 The Cretan mill ; 5.2 Wings on the sea: the sails; 5.2.1 Evolution of the sail rig; 5.2.2 The Chinese junk; 5.2.3 The Flettner rotor; Observations;
Chap. 6 – HYDRAULIC MOTORS: Introduction; 6.1 Water wheels with vertical axis; 6.1.1 The Greek mill; 6.1.2 Vertical axis rotor with oblique blades; 6.2 Water wheels with horizontal axis; 6.2.1 Undershot water wheels; 6.2.2 Overshot water wheels; 6.2.2.1 The wheel of Venafro; 6.3 The floating mill; 6.4 Water wheels in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; Observations;

PART III – USING WATER:
Chap. 7 – LIFTING WATER: Introduction; 7.1 The early devices; 7.2 The Archimedes’ screw; 7.3 Norias; 7.3.1 Scoop wheel; 7.3.2 Chain norias; 7.4 Pumps; 7.4.1 Chain pumps; 7.4.2 Reciprocating pumps; Observations;
Chap. 8 – ADDUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF WATER: Introduction; 8.1 Open ducts; 8.2 Penstocks; 8.3 The great cistern; 8.3.1 The Piscina Mirabilis at Miseno; 8.4 Water distribution systems ; 8.4.1 Piezometric turrets; 8.5 Pipes; 8.5.1 Dimensions of the lead pipes; 8.6 Valves; 8.6.1 Shut-off valves; 8.6.2 Single control mixers; 8.7 Hydraulic mining; 8.7.1 The technique "Ruina Montium"; 8.7.2 Historical references; Observations;
Chap. 9 – UNDERWATER ACTIVITIES: Introduction; 9.1 Scuba divers; 9.2 Diving bell;
PART IV – COMMUNICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATION: Introduction; The capstan; Telecommunication devices;
Chap. 10 – LIFT AND TRANSPORTS: Introduction; 10.1 Cranes and tackle; 10.2 Gravity driven elevators; 10.3 Roman charts; 10.4 Railed cargo; 10.5 The rails of Pompei; 10.6 Ancient self propelled vehicles; 10.7 Early ball bearings; 10.8 Transport on water; 10.8.1 Early paddle wheeled boats; 10.8.2 Pneumatic boats; 10.9 Cableways; 10.10 The dawn of flight in antiquity; 10.10.1 Legends and tales; 10.10.2 Ancient gliders; 10.10.3 Ancient rockets; Observations;
Chap. 11 – TELECOMMUNICATIONS : Introduction; 11.1 Acoustic; 11.2 Carrier pigeons; 11.3 Optical telecommunication systems; 11.3.1 Systems based on image modification; 11.3.2 Systems based on brilliancy modification; 11.4 Lighthouses; 11.5 The water telegraph; Observations;

PART V – TOWARDS THE MODERN AGE:
Chap. 12 – SECONDARY MOTORS : Introduction; 12.1 Flexion elastic motors; 12.1.1 Metal spring flexion elastic motors, 12.2 Torsion elastic motors; 12.3 Pneumatic motors; 12.3.1 The air spring ballista; 12.4 Small spring motors; 12.4.1 Locks and padlocks; 12.5 Counterweight motors; 12.5.1 The trebuchet; 12.6 Ancient steam engines; 12.6.1 Heron’s steam turbine; 12.6.2 The architronitro; Observations;
Chap. 13 – SPINNING AND WEAVING: Introduction; 13.1 The dawn of spinning and weaving; 13.2 The spinning wheel; 13.3 The mechanical spinning wheel; 13.3.1 The spinning jenny; 13.3.2 The spinning frame by Arkwight; 13.3.3 The mule by Crompton; 13.3.4 The ring frame; 13.4 Automatic weaving; 13.4.1 The first programmable loom; 13.4.2 The programmable looms of the XVIIIth century; 13.4.3 The automatic loom; Observations;
Chap. 14 – SOME APPLICATIONS OF FIRE: Introduction; 14.1 Fire ignition; 14.1.2 Optical flints; 14.2 Marine fire – the Roman candle; 14.3 Wind lanterns; 14.4 Fire for warming; 14.4.1 Domestic heating; 14.4.2 Thermal heating systems; 14.4.3 Ancient samovar; 14.5 Fire for warfare; 14.5.1 Burning mirrors; 14.5.2 Flamethrowers; 14.5.2.1 The flamethrower by Thucydides; 14.5.2.2 A probable single cylinder pump flamethrower; 14.5.2.3 Incendiary projectiles; 14.6 Protection from fire: asbestos;
Chap. 15 – AUTOMATA (Towards Automation and Robots): Introduction; 15.1 The Hellenistic Age; 15.1.1 Heron of Alexandria; 15.1.2 The Roman Empire: the repeating catapult; 15.2 The Middle Ages; 15.2.1 Al-Jazari and the Arabs; 15.2.2 The astronomic clock of Strasbourg; 15.3 The Renaissance; 15.4 The XVIIIth Century; 15.5 The XIXth Century; 15.6 Automata of the Far East; 15.7 Between the two millenniums; Observations;

PART VI – SOME ANCIENT BUILDING TECHNIQUES: Stone buildings; Opus siliceum – opus poligonalis; Opus quadratum; Concrete buildings; Opus caementitium; Opus incertum; Opus quasi reticulatum; Opus reticulatum; Opus latericium; Opus spicatum; Opus mixtum; Opus vittatum – opus listatum;
Chap. 16 – CONSIDERATIONS ON SOME ANCIENT BUILDING TECHNIQUES: Introduction; 16.1 Poligonal work; 16.1.1 Building criteria; 16.1.2 Theories on the reasons for polygonal work; 16.2 Concrete;
References; Index.