Humphrey J.W., Oleson J.P., Sherwood A.N. Greek and Roman technology: a Sourcebook

Annotated Translations of Greek and Latin Texts and Documents.
Routledge, 1998. — 614 p. — ISBN 0-415-06136-9, 0-415-06137-7, 0-203-72149-7.At its most basic level, technology can be regarded as an attempt by humans to control and- master- the- natural- environment,- changing- it- to- a- more- hospitable- one- and- so improving the quality of life.
In this volume, the authors translate and annotate key passages from ancient authors to provide a history and an analysis of the origins and development of technology. Among the- topics- covered- are- energy,- basic- mechanical- devices,- hydraulic- engineering, household industry, transport and trade, and military technology. The sourcebook presents 150 ancient authors and a diverse range of literary genres, such as, the encyclopedic Natural Histories of Pliny the Elder, the poetry of Homer and Hesiod, the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle and Lucretius and the agricultural treatise of Varro.
Humphrey, Oleson and Sherwood provide a comprehensive and accessible collection of rich and varied sources to illustrate and elucidate the beginnings of technology. Glossaries of technological terminology, indices of authors and subjects, introductions outlining the general significance of the evidence, notes to explain the specific details, and a recent bibliography make this volume a valuable research and teaching tool.List of Illustrations
Preface and Acknowledgements
List of AbbreviationsSociety and Technology in Antiquity
Literary Sources for Ancient Technology
Archaeology as a Source for the History of Technology
Ancient Weights, Measures, and Coinage
The Rise of Humans and Human Technology
Sources of Energy and Basic Mechanical Devices
Sources of Energy and Prime Movers
Basic Machines
Mechanical Gadgets
Agriculture
Food Processing
Mining and Quarrying
Mining
Quarrying
Metallurgy
Construction Engineering
Hydraulic Engineering
Household Crafts and Workshop Production
Metal-Working
Wood-Working
Textiles and Leather
Ceramics and Glass
Applied Chemistry
Large-Scale, Organized Production
Transport and Trade
Land Transport
Navigation
Standards of Trade
Record-Keeping
Time-Keeping
Writing and Literacy
Military Technology
Attitudes towards Labour, Innovation, and Technology
Indexes
Index of Passages Translated
Subject IndexTrue PDF