Engineering has changed and improved our lives in many ways. From the world’s most impressive constructions such as the Hoover Dam, the Panama Canal, the Channel Tunnel, The Great Wall of China and the Pyramids to the bridges, roads and renewable energy we use today.
Engineering has been around in some way, shape or form for much longer than anyone would expect. Even some of the most basic inventions such as the wheel would have required the initial intelligence, skill and design to come up with the initial concept. Many of the first engineering projects undertaken were the work of talented individuals who worked and developed by trial and error.
The Pyramids & the Coliseum
Although basic forms of engineering date back to the Stone Age 6000 to 3000BC, the first recognised engineer was probably Imhotep who was responsible for building the Step Pyramid in Egypt. A powerful and influential man, Imhotep came up with the initial concept and made his vision a reality around 2550BC.
The Romans were superb engineers and today the Coliseum in Rome stands a lasting testament to their craftsmanship and resilience. They also designed and engineered great aqueducts for water supplies, developed sanitary systems and the steam turbine as well as superb road and defence systems.
The Dark Ages – Or Were They?
When the Roman Empire collapsed in the 4th and 5th Centuries, it became known as the dark Ages… but was it really? At this time engineering was still pushing forward as animals and waterwheels replaced humans as a power source and the Arabs began to develop paper and experiment with chemistry. Sugar refining, soap making and perfume distillation became part of modern culture and the Chinese began to develop clocks, astronomical instruments and gunpowder. This is where the word ‘engineer’ began to appear. Its roots lie in the Latin word ‘ingeniare’ meaning to design or devise.
The Renaissance
As time moved towards the 16th Century, Johann Gutenburg had produced the first books to be printed onto paper, Leonardo da Vinci the great artist was also an engineer as well as an inventor and architect! How’s about that for talented!? Large scale military and civil engineering feats had begun to take shape such as catapults, bridges and buildings.
In the 17th and 18th Century, Galileo discovered gravitational acceleration which was the speed a body achieves whilst falling. He also discovered that the earth moves around the sun. At this time Boyle discovered the expansion qualities of air and the link between temperature, volume and pressure.
The Industrial Age
Developments in engineering took us into the Industrial Age and the invention of the steam engine for use in textile mills and other industries. Spinning and weaving machinery were developed and Newton became famous for his three basic laws of motion.
In the 19th Century electrodynamics, generators, iron refining and an efficient steam engine were just some of the engineering feats accomplished. Twentieth century technology went on to include Henry Ford’s automobiles, the first computer ‘ENIAC’ is developed (although it weights over 30 tons!), Thomas Edison’s electrical equipment, the Wright Brothers powered aircraft and many more, the rest they say, is history!
Guest post written by Reece Nolan, exploring the history of process engineering and planning a trip to the pyramids.
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