Description
Book SynopsisIn this new edition of Greek and Roman Technology, the authors translate and annotate key passages from ancient texts to provide a history and analysis of the origins and development of technology in the classical world.
Sherwood and Nikolic, with Humphrey and Oleson, provide a comprehensive and accessible collection of rich and varied sources to illustrate and elucidate the beginnings of technology. Among the topics covered are energy, basic mechanical devices, hydraulic engineering, household industry, medicine and health, transport and trade, and military technology. This fully revised Sourcebook collects more than 1,300 passages from over 200 ancient sources and a diverse range of literary genres, such as the encyclopaedic Natural History of Pliny the Elder, the poetry of Homer and Hesiod, the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and Lucretius, the agricultural treatises of Varro, Columella, and Cato, the military texts of Philo of Byzantium and Aene
Trade Review
"‘Greek and Roman Technology’ is one of my favourite sourcebooks, as it covers so much material and has reliable, clear translations. As the authors rightly point out, there have been several advances in the field in recent years, and a new edition is welcome. The addition of line drawings and the new section on technologies of the life cycle (not called like this by the authors, but that is how I think of that chapter) are particularly welcome." - Laurence Totelin, Cardiff University
"In my opinion, this manuscript should be most definitely updated and revised! Our understanding of ancient technology is best obtained from the testimony of those who lived with and experienced it first-hand. Therefore listening to the ancient voices express their opinions, reactions, descriptions, and musings regarding their own technology is extremely important to the modern student and scholar. The proposed expanded commentary, bibliographical citations, additional line drawings, new units, and incorporation of newly acquired data since the earlier addition will make this a valuable resource for study of ancient technology." - Jill Baker, Cardiff University
"I have thought since the first edition of this book that the authors deserve high praise for compiling such a useful compendium... The second edition of the book deserves as much gratitude; it has more illustrations, more texts, and an updated bibliography. This book is thoughtful, useful, and compiled with skill." - Bryn Mawr Classical Review
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- Laurence Totelin, Cardiff University
"‘Greek and Roman Technology’ is one of my favourite sourcebooks, as it covers so much material and has reliable, clear translations. As the authors rightly point out, there have been several advances in the field in recent years, and a new edition is welcome. The addition of line drawings and the new section on technologies of the life cycle (not called like this by the authors, but that is how I think of that chapter) are particularly welcome."
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- Jill Baker, Cardiff University
"In my opinion, this manuscript should be most definitely updated and revised! Our understanding of ancient technology is best obtained from the testimony of those who lived with and experienced it first-hand. Therefore listening to the ancient voices express their opinions, reactions, descriptions, and musings regarding their own technology is extremely important to the modern student and scholar. The proposed expanded commentary, bibliographical citations, additional line drawings, new units, and incorporation of newly acquired data since the earlier addition will make this a valuable resource for study of ancient technology."
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations; Preface to the second edition; Extract from the preface and acknowledgements of the first edition; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; 1 The Rise of Humans and Human Technology; 2 Sources of Energy and Basic Mechanical Devices; 3 Agriculture; 4 Food Processing; 5 Mining and Quarrying; 6 Metallurgy; 7 Sculpture; 8 Construction Engineering; 9 Hydraulic Engineering; 10 Household Crafts, Health and Well-Being, and Workshop Production; 11 Transport and Trade; 12 Record-Keeping; 13 Military Technology; 14 Attitudes towards Labour, Innovation, and Technology; Indexes
