Mechanization in Ancient Greece and Rome (illustrated)
Dr Tracey Rihll of the History and Classics Department of Swansea University, in collaboration with the Classical Association.
It is not commonly known that machines powered by human or animal muscle, by water, by air, by steam, and by falling weights were employed in Greek and Roman agriculture, quarries and mines, manufacturing establishments, service businesses and homes, either to make tasks easier to perform or allow them to be performed at all. Knowledge about such machines was formed and disseminated in writing. Known books on machinery were written by a dozen individuals, including Arkhimedes.
(This replaces the scheduled lecture by Professor John France, which will be delivered at a later date. www.haswansea.org.uk.)