Describes physical, ideological, and linguistic inventions of the ancient Mediterranean societies.

Why did the Greeks excel in geometry, but lag begin the Mesopotamians in arithmetic? How were the great pyramids of Egypt and the Han tombs in China constructed? What did the complex system of canals and dykes in the Tigris and Euphrates river valley have to do with the deforestation of Lebanon's famed cedar forests? This work presents a cross-cultural comparison of the ways in which the ancients learned about and preserved their knowledge of the natural world, and the ways in which they developed technologies that enabled them to adapt to and shape their surroundings. Covering the major ancient civilizations - those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, the Indus Valley, and Meso-America - Olson explores how language and numbering systems influenced the social structure, how seemingly beneficial construction projects affected a civilization's rise or decline, how religion and magic shaped both medicine and agriculture, and how trade and the resulting cultural interactions transformed the making of both everyday household items and items intended as art. Along the way, Olson delves into how scientific knowledge and its technological applications changed the daily lives of the ancients.

Describes the technology used in Mesopotamia to improve agriculture, construction, transportation, writing, and mathematics.

Nearly every aspect of daily life in the Mediterranean world and Europe during the florescence of the Greek and Roman cultures is relevant to engineering and technology. This text highlights the accomplishments of the ancient societies, the research problems, and stimulates further progress in the history of ancient technology.

Readers may not think of technology as being from the ancient world, but advances in agriculture, weaponry, art, and food preparation have influenced the development of both human history and the physical development of humans themselves, as well as human migration all over the world. Using photographs, this book thoroughly examines the earliest human technologies, including irrigation, metal work, and ancient artillery, to show readers just how technologically advanced ancient cultures were and to show how human history began to develop because of each of the advancements.

This incredible book provides a snapshot of the often surprising technologies developed by various ancient civilizations. Read about* iron smelting by the Celts;* how mummies were made and buried in Egypt;* sword making in Japan.