Ancient History of Machinery
The very first machines were created as replacements for human skills. For example, back in ancient Egypt, 4000 BC, farmers and merchants used shadufs, a manual machine created to lift water from a river and put it into a crop field. This allowed them to control the amount of water that would go into their crops and to divert the water from different fields.
In the Middle East, from 2000BC, the first automatic machine was invented. Through the use of a toothed pinion, the machine acted rapidly, moved on its own and drove water for distribution to different locations.
In the 8th century BC, the first machine driven by an external force made its appearance in the Athenian and Greek empires- the water wheel. This was used to provide mechanical power to grind grain, lift water and generate electricity. Through the Greek’s interest in this device, they have further developed the technology and have constructed horizontal water wheels.
In the 1st century BC, the Roman Empire has managed to build the first magnificent engineering feats- aqueducts and bridges. This was possible due to the their knowledge on construction and architecture. To power the machines and their mechanisms, they invented the problem-solvers, torsion catapults, crossbows and ballistas.
As the centuries progressed, from the Medieval era to the modern era, machines also advanced in number and complexity. This was due to the inventions made in the Age of Enlightenment. Church bells, clocks and musical instruments started to become popular and more accessible.
As we fast forward to the Industrial Revolution, machines grew even more complex. In this period, we saw the invention of the steam engine and the railways. Machines with the power to create new inventions were made and these inventions saw an increase in labor productivity and mechanization.
The 20th century saw the appearance of machines that make people’s lives easier. From the World Wars, new technologies were developed, including 2-D printing and 3-D printing machines. In the present day, we see automation everywhere, from car factories to homes.
Throughout the ancient history of machines, its main purpose has been the same; to serve humanity by making life easier for us. The invention of each machine had an immense impact on our lives in their own way. In the future, machines will evolve more and become even more intertwined with our lives.
