This whole game of what if can really be a lot of fun: What if, for instance the Roman empire had made use of available steam technology.
It appears that the emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Hadrian 117-138 AD) was approached by some crafty Greeks (the geeks of their day) who suggested using a steam powered machine to erect a very large obelisk in the center of Rome. Hadrian spent a lot of time 'in the field' as it were and was likely unfamiliar with the most up to date technology to be found in that cosmopolitan capital.
The Greeks at this time had apparently a sophisiticated understanding of steam power using it to open heavy bronze temple doors at Delphi, for instance. This was not new technology, either. During the seige of Syracuse during 213 BC Archimedes utilized devices which may have by the description of their operation (see Gibbon) included steam propulsion or steam powered piston/connecting rod/lever-type devices which could; "lift a (Roman) galley out of the sea and smash it".
Other devices demonstrating steam propulsion have been described (Livy , Herotodus) and it is apparent that the Greeks were clear in their understanding of the basic principles. The Romans had sophisticated metallurgy (bronze, brass, iron, steel, zinc, gold, silver, lead) and a means for turning massively large, heavy items and boring them. (See Roman columns). Additionally, the Romans had at their disposal a system of administration to muster and manage large numbers of people, were experienced builders, and had an economy to allow the production of surpluses.
Possibly the Romans were utilizing steam power in a limited manner in 70-80 AD. It is unknown at this time how the work of human muscle power could operate the canopy covering the immense area of the Coluseum. It is possible that steam power pulled the ropes to shade the emperor on a hot day. With these and other (equally oblique) references it is useful to infer that Hadrian had at his disposal useful devices or potential devices and supporting systems to propel his people into the industrial revolution 1,500-some- years before Thomas Newcomen and James Watt.
By constructing pumps and then railroads, the obvious uses for steam power and then allowing for the unflowing of technological offspring from these two items, the Romans could have been flying jets by 380 AD; and who knows where we would be at this time. Would we all be telepathcally communicating in Latin, for instance, into our implanted (cellular?) comunication devices.
Would the environmental outcomes of milleniums of 'progress' allow the continued existence of humans?
Nevertheless, Hadrian declined the offer and steam power disappeared for fifteen centuries.
Right!
Maybe the cops can nab Microsoft with their hands in everyone's pockets. Otherwise there is no purpose to this unless....
the cops are going to act as collection agencies for the ISPs.
I always thought the usual relationship between criminals and computers was criminals stealing computers.
Website developers could use the portable OS (WIN, LINUX, whatever) as applications to support the different browsers and to create web-directories in the appropriate formats for each.
Beats hunting through dumpsters to find workable computers on which to install Netscape, I.E., etc.
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This whole game of what if can really be a lot of fun: What if, for instance the Roman empire had made use of available steam technology.
It appears that the emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Hadrian 117-138 AD) was approached by some crafty Greeks (the geeks of their day) who suggested using a steam powered machine to erect a very large obelisk in the center of Rome. Hadrian spent a lot of time 'in the field' as it were and was likely unfamiliar with the most up to date technology to be found in that cosmopolitan capital.
The Greeks at this time had apparently a sophisiticated understanding of steam power using it to open heavy bronze temple doors at Delphi, for instance. This was not new technology, either. During the seige of Syracuse during 213 BC Archimedes utilized devices which may have by the description of their operation (see Gibbon) included steam propulsion or steam powered piston/connecting rod/lever-type devices which could; "lift a (Roman) galley out of the sea and smash it".
Other devices demonstrating steam propulsion have been described (Livy , Herotodus) and it is apparent that the Greeks were clear in their understanding of the basic principles. The Romans had sophisticated metallurgy (bronze, brass, iron, steel, zinc, gold, silver, lead) and a means for turning massively large, heavy items and boring them. (See Roman columns). Additionally, the Romans had at their disposal a system of administration to muster and manage large numbers of people, were experienced builders, and had an economy to allow the production of surpluses.
Possibly the Romans were utilizing steam power in a limited manner in 70-80 AD. It is unknown at this time how the work of human muscle power could operate the canopy covering the immense area of the Coluseum. It is possible that steam power pulled the ropes to shade the emperor on a hot day. With these and other (equally oblique) references it is useful to infer that Hadrian had at his disposal useful devices or potential devices and supporting systems to propel his people into the industrial revolution 1,500-some- years before Thomas Newcomen and James Watt.
By constructing pumps and then railroads, the obvious uses for steam power and then allowing for the unflowing of technological offspring from these two items, the Romans could have been flying jets by 380 AD; and who knows where we would be at this time. Would we all be telepathcally communicating in Latin, for instance, into our implanted (cellular?) comunication devices.
Would the environmental outcomes of milleniums of 'progress' allow the continued existence of humans?
Nevertheless, Hadrian declined the offer and steam power disappeared for fifteen centuries.
Right!
Maybe the cops can nab Microsoft with their hands in everyone's pockets. Otherwise there is no purpose to this unless....
the cops are going to act as collection agencies for the ISPs.
I always thought the usual relationship between criminals and computers was criminals stealing computers.
Website developers could use the portable OS (WIN, LINUX, whatever) as applications to support the different browsers and to create web-directories in the appropriate formats for each.
Beats hunting through dumpsters to find workable computers on which to install Netscape, I.E., etc.
misspelled blubbery