A Brief Illustrated History of Machines and Mechanisms

Description

PREFACE INTRODUCTION On history without written sources On written documents On cultural influences on design On the scope of this book On the contents of this book CHAPTER 1. ANONYMOUS DEVELOPMENTS On machines before man On the machines of primitive man On popular machines CHAPTER 2. CHINESE INVENTIONS AND MACHINES On war machines On textile machinery On hydraulic machinery On clocks and automatons On continuity over the millennia CHAPTER 3. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IN ANTIQUITY On technological evidence On the development of ingenious mechanisms On gears and screws On the way to mechanical engineering On Vitruvius's influence On harmony in machines CHAPTER 4. MEDIEVAL MACHINES AND MECHANISMS On raising water On clocks and automatons On the transition in Europe CHAPTER 5. THE MACHINE RENAISSANCE 123 On war machines On lifting machines On hydraulic machines On machine tools On machines for traction and transport On machines for the rural world On domestic apparatus CHAPTER 6. MACHINES IN THE FIRST COLONIAL EMPIRES On raising water On mills On lifting devices On other devices On machinery and precious metals On automatons CHAPTER 7. THE MACHINERY DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION On textile machinery On the evolution of handcraft On machine tools On hydraulic machines On steam engines On the development of transport On automatic astronomical devices CHAPTER 8. A VISION ON MACHINES On re-examining Greco-Roman works On the systematisation of machine study On progress in practical use On mathematisation of mechanism design On machine training FINAL REMARKS Looking to the future On the challenge of biodevices On the challenges with Mechatronics Chronological table BIBLIOGRAPHY.