Lost Technology
The new age of discovery began during the 16th century with the renaissance and western exploration. Great advances in science and medicine were being made and the mechanized world came to life with the industrial revolution. Most of what we consider modern science and ideas has been developed since the 1500's, but the ancient Greek's were making similar discoveries two millennia before that. Due to constant invasions by outside forces and the suppression of Greek learning by the church, many of the teachings and innovations of the ancient Greeks were lost to the western world.The ancient Greeks made discoveries in the sciences such as medicine, astronomy, and technology that were far ahead of what most people associate with the ancient world. In medicine the Greeks studied the brain and human anatomy under the physician Herophilus. Herophilus discovered the human nervous system and was aware that the brain controlled these systems (McKay). The Greeks were also aware of the benefits of drugs to treat illness and used pain relievers such as opium. Despite the great work of some of the Greek physicians, there were still many people who claimed to be able to heal using magic and potions. These abuses caused many Romans to
The bishops were afraid that the people would learn pagan superstitions (McKay). In the declining years of the Roman Empire, tribes of Muslims and Germanic people were threatening Rome's borders. These automatons were used as clocks, sirens and children's toys. Due to constant invasions from warring tribes outside the Roman empire and the suppression of pagan teachings by the Christian leaders, Greek knowledge would disappear from the western world until the 1500's and the renaissance. Astronomy was another area that the Greeks explored in depth. Hero also made a variety of automated toys by using strings with weights and gears. It was becoming increasingly difficult for the Romans to manage their territories and sustain the enormous empire that had expanded into England and most of Europe. During the rise of the Roman Empire, Greek ideals were accepted and incorporated into the Roman lifestyle. Archimedes developed several simple machines but his most notable were the Archimedes screw used to pump water for irrigation and mining, and the cranes used at sea ports to load and unload heavy cargo. The aeolipile was a crude steam engine developed by Hero of Alexandria during the 1st century BC. Non Christians were not allowed to hold public office and eventually learning anything outside the Christian doctrines was outlawed. Without the use of telescopes, the Greek astronomer Aristarchus determined that the earth was not the center of the universe and developed the heliocentric theory that the earth and other planets revolve around the sun (McKay). Had the Greeks or their predecessors been able to pursue the inventions and technologies that were being developed 2000 years ago, the industrial revolution might have happened much sooner. Eratosthenes, a Greek scientist from the 3rd century BC, realized that the earth was actually round and was able to calculate it's circumference accurately within 200 miles. Another fascinating machine from the 1st century BC is the Antikythera Mechanism, a mechanical calendar considered to be the first computer.
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