Greek and Roman Technology: A Sourcebook: Annotated Translations of Greek and Latin Texts and Documents

by Sherwood,Andrew N.

• ISBN13: 9780415061360
• ISBN10: 0415061369
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-12-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In this volume the contributors translate and annotate key passages from ancient authors to provide a history and analysis of the origins and development of technology. Among some of the topics extensively discussed are energy, food processing and diet, construction and hydraulic engineering, household industry, transport, trade and military technology. The contributors illustrate the beginning of technology in the ancient world by presenting ancient authors and a diverse range of literary genres, including Natural Histories of Pliny the Elder, the poetry of Homer and Hesiod, and the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle and Lucretius.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface and Acknowledgements	xi
List of Abbreviations	xiv
Introduction	xv
Society and Technology in Antiquity	xv
Literary Sources for Ancient Technology	xix
Archaeology as a Source for the History of Technology	xxii
Ancient Weights, Measures, and Coinage	xxiv
The Rise of Humans and Human Technology	1	(22)
Sources of Energy and Basic Mechanical Devices	23	(52)
Sources of Energy and Prime Movers	23	(23)
Basic Machines	46	(10)
Mechanical Gadgets	56	(19)
Agriculture	75	(72)
Food Processing	147	(26)
Mining and Quarrying	173	(32)
Mining	173	(21)
Quarrying	194	(11)
Metallurgy	205	(30)
Construction Engineering	235	(50)
Hydraulic Engineering	285	(46)
Household Crafts and Workshop Production	331	(78)
Metal-Working	331	(6)
Wood-Working	337	(9)
Textiles and Leather	346	(25)
Ceramics and Glass	371	(9)
Applied Chemistry	380	(10)
Large-Scale, Organized Production	390	(19)
Transport and Trade	409	(104)
Land Transport	409	(33)
Navigation	442	(42)
Standards of Trade	484	(29)
Record-Keeping	513	(28)
Time-Keeping	514	(8)
Writing and Literacy	522	(19)
Military Technology	541	(38)
Attitudes towards Labour, Innovation, and Technology	579	(22)
Indexes	601	(1)
A. Index of Passages Translated	601	(12)
B. Subject Index	613