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Discover the unbelievable inventions and innovations of ancient people from across the world.
This technological treasury of hidden histories uncovers gadgets and gizmos from the ancient and recent past to change the way you think about history and science.
See inside steam-powered robots from ancient Greece, learn the secrets of medieval alchemy, and marvel at an earthquake detector from ancient China. Forget your dusty history books—this is a book of marvels that are stranger than fiction!
Spanning five continents and thousands of years, That Was Genius includes:
Each spread is packed with fascinating details on the science behind each invention, as well as puzzlebox illustrations which invite you to solve the mysteries of the distant past yourself...
Perfect for curious minds and budding inventors, That Was Genius invites you to rethink what ancient people knew, built, and imagined—and to see the modern world with fresh eyes.
Emily Dodd loves science and wildlife. She is the author of picture books and non-fiction science books, a screenwriter for CBeebies, a singer-songwriter, and a BBC radio playwright. Emily travels widely, taking her interactive science events to schools, libraries, and festivals. Her books for children include DKFindOut! Energy (DK, 2018), the Tell Me About series (Templar) and The Book of Lost Knowledge (Wide Eyed Editions, 2025).
Christian Gralingen was born in Essen, Germany and now lives and works as an Art Director and Illustrator, as well as teaching Illustration and Communication Design, in Berlin. His client list includes design agencies, publishing houses, magazines, academic institutions, and foundations. His aesthetics have many influences but are particularly inspired by the imagery of scientific publications, construction plans, and technical drawings.
4 Introduction
6 Songlines
8 Mammoth Tusk Map
10 Lascaux Cave
12 Trepanning
14 Obsidian Toolmaking
16 Lyre
18 Inventor: Tapputi-Belatekalim
20 Mummification
22 Wheelchairs
24 Mechane
26 Yakhchal Ice House
28 Hygiene
30 Automated Pigeon
32 Inventor: Democritus
34 Camera Obscurer
36 Plato's Alarm Clock
38 Rosetta Stone
40 Puzzles and Games
42 Antikythera Mechanism
44 Inventor: Archimedes
46 Circus Maximus
48 Roman Concrete
50 Lycurgus Cup
52 Odometer
54 Robot Bar
56 Sunstones and lenses
58 Inventor: Heron of Alexandria
60 Houfeng Didong Yi
62 Baghdad Battery
64 Musical Instruments
66 Alchemy
68 Venetian Arsenal
70 Inventor: Leonardo da Vinci
72 Quipus
74 Aztec Sun Stone
76 Taqi al-Din
78 Rai Stones
80 Greek Fire
82 Submarines
84 Inventor: Ada Lovelace
86 Lost Libraries
88 Timeline
90 Timeline
92 Glossary
94 Index
96 Imprint
The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.
The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.
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